Pierre Samuel, professor of mathematics emeritus at the University of Paris-South, died Aug. 23, 2009, at the age of 87.
Samuel published his first math paper in 1942, after graduating from the University of Grenoble in 1941. In 1947, he earned both master’s and Ph.D. degrees in mathematics from Princeton. He returned to France and from 1947 to 1949 worked at the National Center for Scientific Research.
In 1949, Samuel was appointed to the Faculty of Science at Clermont-Ferrand, where he later rose to professor. He continued there until 1961, when he was appointed a professor at the University of Paris-South. He remained there until he retired as an emeritus professor.
Samuel was well known and appreciated, especially by younger mathematicians, for his books. Algebraic geometry and algebraic number theory were among his subjects. He is perhaps best known for the two-volume work Commutative Algebra, which he co-authored and which appeared in 1958 and 1960. He later wrote on nonmathematical issues, the environment and global warming. From 1982 to 1989, he chaired the French branch of the Friends of the Earth International.
He was survived by his wife of 61 years, Nicole; and two children.
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