Deceased March 8, 2016
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In Memory
Our class lost a distinguished scholar and friend when David Johnson died March 8 at age 70. At Amherst, aside from our friendship, David and I shared a keen interest in mathematics and in track. As a runner, David was a pleasure to watch; I well remember watching him break the College record in the mile, as effortlessly as though out for a morning jog. After Amherst he went on to MIT, where he earned his doctorate in mathematics.
His subsequent career as a mathematician and computer scientist was extraordinary. In 1973 he began working at AT&T Bell Laboratories, eventually becoming head of the Algorithms and Optimization Research Department. With Michael Garey he wrote the seminal and frequently cited Computers and Intractability: A Guide to the Theory of NP-Completeness. Indeed, he was a global leader in research on NP-completeness and other problems in computational mathematics. In 2010 he was awarded the Donald E. Knuth Prize for his work in theoretical and experimental analysis of algorithms. Just before he died he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering.
David was by no means only a scholar. He served as a mentor to numerous students; a “patron saint of good music,” as his wife, Dorothy, and niece Tanya describe him; a hardworking and efficient administrator; and a devoted father to son Jack. Dorothy says, simply, “Jack and I were the luckiest souls alive to have shared in his life.” Many would agree. For 31 years he hosted a massive summer picnic that brought together computer scientists and summer students from around the world and nurtured many fruitful relationships, both professional and personal.
Dave leaves wife Dorothy, son Jack, in-laws Kathy and Michael and many nieces and nephews. He also leaves the world the less for his passing.
Lee L. Keener ’67