Timothy O’Meara *53

Timothy O’Meara, provost and professor of mathematics, emeritus, at the University of Notre Dame, died June 17, 2018, of complications related to Parkinson’s disease. He was 90.

O’Meara graduated from the University of Cape Town, South Africa, with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in 1947 and 1948, respectively. In 1953 he was awarded a Ph.D. in mathematics from Princeton. In 1962 he was an assistant professor at Princeton when he was personally recruited by Father Theodore Hesburgh, the president of Notre Dame.

Chosen to enhance the mathematics department at Notre Dame, O’Meara chaired the department in the 1960s and 1970s. He also advanced his own work in number theory, linear groups, and quadratic forms, and developed a new foundation for the isomorphism theory.

In 1982, O’Meara became the first lay provost of Notre Dame and oversaw significant expansion and academic growth. He was also appointed to the McKenna Chair in mathematics, and the mathematics library was named in his honor. For many years, he served on the Board of Trustees. He was also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

O’Meara was predeceased by his wife of more than 50 years, Jean. He is survived bysix children, eight grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Graduate memorials are prepared by the APGA.