William A. Veech *63

William Veech, who held the Edgar Odell Lovett Chair in mathematics at Rice University, died unexpectedly Aug. 30, 2016. He was 77. 

Veech graduated from Dartmouth in 1960 and earned a Ph.D. in mathematics from Princeton in 1963. In 1969, he joined the faculty at Rice and was the department chair from 1982 to 1986. He held the Milton Brockett Porter Chair from 1988 to 2003 and the Lovett Chair since 2003. 

He was the sole author of more than 60 papers, which often transformed whole subjects. Veech believed in the importance of developing one’s own unique perspective. He had a characteristic blend of dynamics, geometry, and deep analytic technique. His work has been important in topological dynamics. 

Veech worked at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton during many visits there in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. He was an Inaugural Fellow of the American Mathematics Society. Veech was regarded as a generous mentor and a great friend to his students and colleagues. 

Veech is survived by Kathryn, his wife of 50 years; and two daughters. 

Graduate memorials are prepared by the APGA.