Zwischen Wissenschaft und Kunst by Dick Zukerman

A poem by George (Dick) Zukerman for his cousin Joe Auslander, on the occasion of his 90th birthday!

A limmerickian ode to a favoured cousin

Zwischen Wissenschaft und Kunst

 

A mathematician called Joe

Reached 90, with much more to go

I’m willing to bet

That his old clarinet

Still spouts music equations each blow.

 

Pythagarus,  Maxwell  reflected

As vast complex numbers inspected.

Joe figured them out

With gravity’s clout

While his clarinet’s never neglected.

 

In his 91^st year of delight 

Relativity still in his sight

He’s sure to emerge

At Beethoven’s urge

On a clarinet playing  all night

 

Now, as  Cantor and Tartar explained

A new subset in space is contained.

Calculus, fractal and real-line 

Prove  clearly that she is a feline.

So we trust that by now, she’s well trained

 

The high school of music and art

 Was patently only a start

Where all cousins attended

Their young lives up-ended

While ambitions veered wildly apart

 

With Clarinet, paint brush, bassoon

We all tried to reach for the moon

While some of us  hurried

The others just worried

That real life would start far too soon.

 

When Auslander proved mathematic

No one dared to insist it was static

He found a safe part

Between science and art

A lifetime of mixture ecstatic.

 

Happy Birthday, Joe!

gz sept 2020

 

 

Alfred Auslander descendants: Gail Ginnity, Dean Auslander

Gail (Auslander) Ginnity writes:

Hello Joe,
I’m sending along joyous birthday wishes to you from the Alfred Auslander side of the family. Alfred, married to Rougea , was my grandfather whose son Stanley was my dad. And Dean Auslander is my brother.

We have enjoyed getting to know so much wonderful history about the Auslander’s because of your son’s excellent research and skill at telling the story. And of course your daughters collaboration.

Thank you for your part - your ongoing support to many family members and imparting great talents to your children.

My very best wishes,
Gail Auslander Ginnetty 

Joe and Barbara

Joe and Barbara Meeker married in 1988, in Barbara's then home in Hyattsville, MD. They have traveled the world together:

 

Joe and Barbara. Spice Garden in Kerala, India. 2018

Joe in Jamaican Rastafari Community,  Jan.2020

 

 

Joe at his 80th birthday, Sept. 2010

 

Joe and Barbara in Venice

Joe in front of Ashley's Sack, National Museum of African American History and Culture

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jonathan and Erin King

Mathematician Jonathan King (University of Florida) writes:

 The attached photo shows our [Erin and Jonathan]'s infant
son Isaac on Joe's lap.  Isaac was then about 4 months old,
23 years ago.

  Erin overheard [when Jonathan was out of earshot] Joe saying
something like:

   "Now, Isaac, [while I have great affection and respect for your father]
    do NOT be led astray into the abyss of Measureable
    dynamics, into which your father, sadly, has fallen.

    Topological Dynamics! is the subject... "





Cheers,  -Jonathan

Alicia Miller

Dr. Alicia Miller, Professor of Mathematics at the University of Louisville, writes:

Dear Joe,

You were the first and the most important person that has replied to my letter twenty years ago, which included my first paper, asking for some input and advice. Your letter and message then meant so much to me and it sealed my fate: I definitely decided to work in Topological Dynamics. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for adding such a beautiful meaning to my life and for all the support and encouragement through the years!
Happy 90th birthday!!!
Love,
Alica (Miller)

Joann Moser and Nick Berkoff

 
Joe is a force of nature! I see him running on the Mountainside Loop at Coolfont, hardly breaking a sweat. We see him regularly swimming in the CMA pool.  It is a good chance for a conversation, since it is easy to keep a 6 foot distance standing in the pool. His mind is sharp, his memory is good, and his personality is intact. He reads and loves to discuss world events and politics. Of course Barbara’s love and attention play an important part in his positive attitude. Nick and I aspire to be like him as we get older. We are truly fortunate to have Joe Auslander as a friend.

---Nick Berkoff and Joann Moser (CAM, Berkeley Springs) 

Cesar Silva

Dear Joe,

 This is indeed a special occasion to celebrate your 90th birthday. We met at Maryland around 1987 and since that time I have enjoyed your company and learned much from you. You have introduced me to actors (your cousin), mathematical philosophers, and others. There are many conferences we have organized together that I don’t think would have happened if not for your kind suggestions. Best Wishes,
Cesar Silva