Ronald Jacobowitz *60

After a long illness, Ron died April 26, 2024, at his home in Phoenix. He was 89.

Ron was born in New York City. He began studying classical piano at a young age and majored in musicology at the City College of New York. He seriously considered a career as a classical pianist and musicologist, but he also loved mathematics. He received a master’s degree in math at the University of Chicago, then enrolled in a Ph.D. program in musicology at Princeton. During his time at Princeton, Ron decided to switch back to mathematics and earned his Ph.D. in math in 1960, specializing in algebraic number theory.

Ron was a professor of mathematics at Arizona State University, and occasionally gave piano concerts. After he retired, he gave concerts on a regular basis. He particularly enjoyed playing for charity benefits in Israel, where his son had settled.

Ron’s wide range of interests included obtaining an airplane pilot’s license, learning to sail, and becoming proficient in several languages.

Ron is survived by his wife of 64 years, Ada; his children, Hadas, Esther Walzer s’81, and Menachem; 16 grandchildren (including Gil Walzer ’16), and 10 great-grandchildren.

Graduate alumni memorials are prepared by the APGA.