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Jens-Peer Kuska

  • To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
  • Subject: [mg101530] Jens-Peer Kuska
  • From: TWJ <twj at wolfram.com>
  • Date: Thu, 9 Jul 2009 01:58:34 -0400 (EDT)

We are all very saddened to hear of the sudden death of
Jens-Peer Kuska. In particular it must be very difficult
for his family.

Based at the University of Leipzig in the Bioinformatics
Department Jens had many interests including medical image
processing, and computer visualization.

For a very long time he had been a Mathematica enthusiast
and was well known to many of the developers of Mathematica
here at Wolfram Research.

He worked on many Mathematica development projects including
MathGL3D -- an OpenGL rendering system for Mathematica and
a set of virtual TeX fonts to use the Mathematica typesetting
fonts with TeX (later supported by TeXSave).  Recently he
had been developing a suite of image processing functionality
to complement his work.

He published a book on using Mathematica and C to solve
theoretical physics problems: 'Mathematica und C in der
modernen Theoretischen Physik'.

On MathGroup he was a continuous contributor, making
frequent posts and comments.  Always giving sensible,
practical and useful advice.  He would always see to the
heart of the matter,  people who followed his advice
would not only learn how to solve their problem, but
would increase their understanding of how Mathematica
works.

He was a frequent and enthusiastic attendee at many
Mathematica conferences and symposia.  I remember him
well in Avignon for IMS 2006 and Maastricht for IMS 2008.
He also took part in many conferences and training sessions
in Germany.  I last saw him at a Mathematica Day
at the Weierstrass Institute in Berlin in November.
As ever he was a strong contributor, asking questions
and giving his own perspective and opinions. Afterwards
several of us continued our discussions at a very enjoyable
meal.

Jens was a completely unique character, warm and friendly,
very knowledgeable about Mathematica, as well as mathematics,
physics and programming in general.  He was incisive and
questioning -- but realistic with a fine sense of what
was practical and useful.  This was bundled with a lovely
sardonic and dry sense of humour.  He certainly knew how
to get the best out of Mathematica.  He always liked
to see what was in upcoming versions, and was very free
with praise, advice and suggestions so that we could all
make the most of what was to come.

Sadly,  this is not to be any more.   He will be missed.


Tom Wickham-Jones

Director of Kernel Technology
Wolfram Research



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