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lucabrasi

Member Since 2003

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Tuesday Nov 09, 2004

Nov 9, 2004
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I took a math class on elementary differential equations my freshman year of college. At the time I was uncertain of my abilities, and wondering if the class was over my head. Jim Herold taught the class and on the first day he walked in with a presentation that had me hooked for the rest of the semester. It consisted of two identical double pendulums. He started the two pendulums together, and very quickly the two diverged: a demonstration of the mathematical principle of chaos. I was fine in his class. In fact, I give a lot of credit to him for the success I've had since then. His style of teaching and style of thinking have stuck with me over the years.

Later in the semester, Dr. Herold had to miss time due to a "family medical emergency." Although perfectly happy not to have to go to class, I had a bad feeling. When he returned he informed the class that his four year old son had been diagnosed with luekemia, and he would miss time periodically through the semester to take his son for treatment. A dance marathon at the university is held in the spring of each year to raise money for kids with luekemia. His son became one of those kids. I remember him commenting in class that the dance marathon had never meant so much to him as it did that year.

The next spring I had his wife for another math class. Periodically I would see Dr. Herold and talk to him briefly about my math career since I left his class. I saw him once with his son, who was in remission and looked like a happy energetic child. I had seen enough children who never got their chance to live a full life, and it came as a genuine relief that his child was well on his road to recovery.

I found out today that Jim Herold died suddenly at the beginning of the semester. I understand that this happens to everyone. As I get older, more people I've known from my past will pass on and that it's part of a natural progression. This, however, I don't understand. I don't understand the timing, I don't understand why it happened to their family. Why leave his wife a widow and the single mother of a child recovering from leukemia? This one's hard to stomach.

I'll do what I can. When the dance marathon rolls around this spring I'll scratch together whatever money I can and donate it in Jim Herold's name. I'll just hope, pray it goes to a family with better luck then theirs.
VIEW 8 of 8 COMMENTS
anniesegall:
I plan on it. My bf has all the digital pics, so he will have to do it for me.
Nov 15, 2004
thisplaceisdeath:
*huggles*
Nov 16, 2004

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