I met Sam in Toronto, and later knew him in London. A few memories: Sam explaining an algorithm using sandwiched, rotating overhead slides; Friendly teasing about my Canadian accent after a talk ("I'll tell you all a-boot it"); his incredible enthusiasm for everything that he did, professional and personal; telling a funny-yet-harrowing story about almost having his bike stolen while stopping to get late-night chips from the shop on Tottenham Court Road; explaining his rule for the youngest person one should date ("half your age plus seven years. Round down if you must."); giving me a few encouraging words after I gave a bad talk; Sam smiling happily while asking insightful questions during Gatsby tea-time-talks; Graciously letting me stay at his place when I was briefly stranded in Toronto.
Sam was a great example to everyone who knew him, of someone who could be so professionally accomplished, and at the same time simply a modest, funny, really nice person. He will be missed.
No comments:
Post a Comment