Richard M. Dudley *62

Dick died Jan. 19, 2020, in Boston at the age of 81.

A professor of mathematics at MIT from 1967 to 2015, Dick is considered one of the most influential mathematicians in the latter half of the 20th century for his work in probability and mathematical statistics. His work continues to influence contemporary statistics and mathematical foundations of machine learning. His most cited work is his book Real Analysis and Probability.

Dick graduated from Harvard in 1959 and earned a Ph.D. from Princeton in 1962. He taught at Berkeley from 1962 to 1967. While at Berkeley, he volunteered as a public radio news writer and broadcaster.

When he was a child, his parents bought a summer house on Little Squam Lake in New Hampshire, where Dick developed his love of hiking. As an adult, he led Sierra Club outings to the White Mountains and was editor of the 22nd edition of the AMC White Mountain Guide. Dick and his wife traveled in Europe frequently. His most ambitious climb was up Mont Blanc. Dick also loved classical music.

He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth “Liza” Martin; his sisters, Edith D. Sylla and Alice D. Carmel; and their family members.

Graduate alumni memorials are prepared by the APGA.