John Hempel

John Paul Hempel (Salt Lake City, Utah, October 14, 1935 ─ Rice Lake, Wisconsin, January 13, 2022[1]) was an American mathematician specialising in geometric topology, in particular the topology of 3-manifolds and associated algebraic problems, mainly in group theory.[2]

John Hempel
Born(1935-10-14)October 14, 1935
Salt Lake City, Utah
DiedJanuary 13, 2022(2022-01-13) (aged 86)
Rice Lake, Wisconsin
OccupationMathematician

Early life and career

John was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. In 1957 he graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in mathematics. In 1962, he defended his thesis at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, under the supervision of R. H. Bing. He was a professor at Rice University until the time of his death.[1]

He was married to Edith (Elbing, Germany, October 6, 1930 ─ December 13, 2013[3][4]), whom he married on September 1, 1965, in Houston, Texas. He had 2 children and 3 grandchildren.[1]

Outside of mathematics, John was a nature enthusiast. As a child he was adventurous, and taught himself to mountain bike. He was also fascinated by camping, climbing, skiing, boating... In addition, he knew how to play the piano.[5] In 2013, John Hempel was elected a fellow of the American Mathematical Society.[6]

John Hempel showed that the fundamental groups of 2 manifolds are residually finite.[7] He also introduced the study of the curve complex into 3-manifold topology.[8]

He wrote a book called 3-manifolds in 1976.[9][10][11][12] His research was in topology.[13]

References
  1. "Obituary of John Paul Hempel | Anderson-McQueen - N.E. St. Petersburg Family Tribute Center". andersonmcqueen.com. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  2. "John Hempel | Faculty | The People of Rice | Rice University". profiles.rice.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  3. "Edith Hempel Obituary (2013) Houston Chronicle". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
  4. "Obituary of Edith Hempel | Anderson McQueen Funeral Homes". andersonmcqueen.com. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
  5. "John Hempel - 1687 East 900 South, Hempel House". DiestelMichigan - Our Home. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  6. "Fellows of the American Mathematical Society". American Mathematical Society. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
  7. "algebraic topology - John Hempel's proof of residual finiteness of surface groups". Mathematics Stack Exchange. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  8. Hempel, John (2001). "3-manifolds as viewed from the curve complex". Topology. 40 (3): 631–657. Zbl 0985.57014.
  9. Hempel, John (1976). 3-manifolds. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-8218-6939-0.
  10. "Hempel: 3-Manifolds". American Mathematical Society. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  11. Scott, G. P. (1977-11-01). "3-MANIFOLDS". Bulletin of the London Mathematical Society. 9 (3): 345–346. doi:10.1112/blms/9.3.345.
  12. "3-Manifolds | Mathematical Association of America". www.maa.org. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  13. "In Memory Of ... John Hempel". American Mathematical Society. 12 April 2022. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
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