Obituary: Bernard J. Matkowsky

By Alvin Bayliss, Michael J. Miksis, and Vladimir A. Volpert

On June 11, 2020, our friend and colleague Bernard J. Matkowsky passed away. He was 80 years old. Bernie joined the faculty of Northwestern University’s McCormick School of Engineering in 1977 and retired in 2018, having established a prestigious reputation at both the university and within the greater applied mathematics community.

Bernie graduated from the City College of New York in 1960 with a degree in electrical engineering. He proceeded to earn two master’s degrees (in electrical engineering and mathematics) from New York University (NYU). Bernie received his Ph.D. in mathematics from NYU in 1966 under the direction of Joseph Keller. He then joined the faculty at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute before eventually moving to Northwestern, where he remained for the rest of his career.

Bernie made numerous major contributions to the field of applied mathematics. These developments include advances in asymptotic analysis of singularly perturbed problems, dynamical systems, stochastic differential equations, and pattern formation and scientific computation — despite his oft-stated remark that “gentlemen don’t compute.” In terms of application areas, he contributed significantly to combustion science and solid and fluid mechanics, among other disciplines.

Bernie’s colleagues and peers regularly recognized him with honors too numerous to list in detail. These awards included a Fulbright-Hays Fellowship, a Guggenheim Fellowship,  two medals from the Russian Academy of Sciences, and recognition as an Institute for Scientific Information Highly Cited Researcher. He was a Fellow of SIAM, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the American Physical Society. Bernie published more than 250 papers during his career. Upon his retirement from Northwestern, the Department presented him with bound copies of his complete papers, which extended to four thick volumes.

Bernie’s service to Northwestern’s Department of Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics—as well as the applied math community at large—was legendary. He served as department chair for six years, guiding the department through some challenging situations. Even after stepping down as chair, Bernie was an ever-present force, providing sound advice and support on a continuing basis.

Along with his colleagues Stephen Davis, Ed Olmstead, and the late Ed Reiss, Bernie helped build the department in the late 1970s and early 1980s; his duties included recruiting and mentoring the current senior faculty. Even while in ill health during his later years, Bernie never lost his devotion to the department and its faculty, and was always willing to provide advice and global perspectives. His unwavering focus on the application of math to real-world problems in science and engineering inspired a department that was unique for its time and has served—and continues to serve—as a model for other applied mathematics departments and programs around the country.

Outside of his department at Northwestern, Bernie remained an active member of SIAM. He served on the Editorial Board of the SIAM Journal on Applied Mathematics for 18 years (1977-1994), which included a stint as associate managing editor (1978-1982). He also acted as vice chair of the SIAM Activity Group on Dynamical Systems (1988-1990). In 2017, Bernie received SIAM’s John von Neumann Prize and delivered the associated prize lecture at the 2017 SIAM Annual Meeting.

Bernie was an outstanding advisor, mentor, and friend to his students, preparing them for successful careers in applied mathematics. He had a wide network of collaborators that reached Israel, Europe, and the former Soviet Union. In particular, Bernie recognized the rich heritage of theoretical combustion that was developed in the USSR. He was instrumental in disseminating this heritage in the U.S. via published papers and collaborations with eminent Soviet combustion theorists.

Bernie is survived by his wife Fraydie of 55 years, three children—David, Daniel, and Devorah—and six grandchildren. Those whose lives he touched will never forget him. His vision, energy, and devotion to applied mathematics, both at Northwestern and throughout the country, will remain a lasting legacy.

Alvin Bayliss, Michael J. Miksis, and Vladimir A. Volpert are professors in the Department of Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics at Northwestern University. All three interacted extensively with Bernard Matkowsky for many years.