Juan J. Schäffer
February 12, 2017

SCHÄFFER, JUAN J.: On Sunday, February 12, 2017; Beloved husband of the late Ines Schäffer. Beloved father of Alejandro A. (Beth R.) Schäffer. Brother of the late Eva Ruth Schäffer. Grandfather of Daniel Edwin Schäffer. He did his undergraduate studies in Uruguay and his doctoral studies in Switzerland. He received doctorates in Electrical Engineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) and in Mathematics from the University of Zürich in 1956. He then returned to Uruguay to teach engineering and mathematics at the Universidad de la República in Montevideo during 1957-1968, except for two sabbatical years in the United States. In 1968, he moved with his wife and son to Pittsburgh to take a position as Professor of Mathematics at Carnegie Mellon University, which he held until his death. He published two research monographs, two textbooks, and dozens of research papers. He was a scholar of history and combined his interests to develop a course in History of Math. He also contributed substantially to the site archontology.org that records the history of world leaders in all countries. He was fluent in English, Spanish, French, German, and Portuguese and had some knowledge of several other languages. He used the foreign language skills, for example, to help his late wife Inés host many hundreds of dinners for official foreign visitors to Pittsburgh under the auspices of the Pittsburgh Center for International Visitors. Juan and Inés also served as volunteer translators for foreign patients receiving treatment at Pittsburgh hospitals. Services at Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., 5509 Centre Avenue, Shadyside on Friday at 9 AM. Visitation one hour prior to services (8 - 9 AM). Interment Homewood Cemetery. Contributions may be made to United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place SW, Washington, DC 20024 or Carnegie Mellon University Department of Mathematical Sciences, Wean Hall 6113, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. www.schugar.com

Condolences

We are so sorry to hear of Juan's passing. He was an erudite and treasured member of Beth Shalom's "Library Minyan" and contributed his vast historical knowledge to so many discussions. He will be missed. Please know that we are making a contribution to the Holocaust Museum as was the family's request, but we have no other way of contacting the family that we are doing so-

I am terribly sorry to hear of the passing of Dr. Schäffer. I had the privilege of studying with him at the Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Sciences this past summer; it was a truly remarkable experience. Dr. Schäffer had a brilliant mind. He challenged us to challenge our minds. Under his guidance, we were forced to come together to solve the problems that he gave to us. He taught us much about mathematics and problem solving. His lessons transcend the classroom: we now know that with the help of our peers, as well as the guidance of someone older and wiser, nothing is unattainable. I am grateful for the time that I had to spend with him, and I will keep his lessons with me forever.