In Memoriam Cem Tezer (1955-2020)

TL;DR

This paper memorializes Cem Tezer, highlighting his diverse contributions to mathematics, history of sciences, literature, and music, and emphasizes his unique personality and influence on colleagues and students.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive classification and summary of Cem Tezer's mathematical work and explores his distinctive personality and impact on the scientific community.

Findings

Cem Tezer's work spanned multiple disciplines including mathematics and sciences.

He significantly influenced colleagues and students' perspectives on mathematics.

His personality and approach inspired a transformative view of mathematics.

Abstract

Cem Tezer was a fastidious, meticulous, highly idiosyncratic and versatile scientist. Without him Turkish community of mathematics would be incomplete. Our sense of gratitude for his work in various areas of mathematics, history of sciences, literature, music and his encouragement to do mathematics for only its beauty was hardly unique and even unusual. After he passed away on 27 February 2020, while working actively at Middle East Technical University, the number of colleagues and former students described the ways in which their studies and indeed their view towards mathematics had been transformed by having known him might have surprised only those who had never met him. In this article not only, his contributions to mathematics will be classified and summarized but also his unique and distinguished personality as a mathematician will be emphasized.