The Mathematics Department would like to acknowledge the passing of some of our beloved faculty and staff.
Juha Pohjanpelto
Juha was born in Helsinki, Finland in 1959. While studying for his M.Sc. in Mathematics (1983) under Olavi Nevanlinna at Teknillinen Korkeakoulu, now Aalto University, he coauthored a high school physics textbook, taught as a lecturer, and completed a year of service in the Finnish army as a lieutenant in an anti-aircraft division.
Juha moved to Minneapolis to study for a PhD in Mathematics (1983-1989) as Peter Olver’s first student with a dissertation on generalized symmetries of Maxwell’s equations. He moved to Corvallis, Oregon in 1989 where he worked as a professor of mathematics at Oregon State University teaching classes across several areas of mathematics from geometry, algebra, topology to real and complex analysis, and financial mathematics. In addition, he published a series of highly regarded papers in his field and served as chair of teaching, and graduate committees and assistant chair.
Juha’s stories, sense of humor, and enthusiasm are tremendously missed by his friends and family and colleagues. He is survived by his wife Anne-Marie Girard-Pohjanpelto of Corvallis, Oregon and sons Max and Alex Pohjanpelto of Helsinki, Finland, along with relatives in Finland and Canada.
Read more about Juha at the McHenry Funeral Home
Beata Michalik
Bea Michalik passed away at home on Friday, December 6. A longtime member of the Mathematics Department community, Bea served as MSLC Coordinator during 2021-2022. Bea was born in Warsaw, Poland and received the Diplom in Mathematics from the JW Goethe Universitat in Frankfurt, Germany in 1992. She moved to Corvallis in 1993. Bea has been very active in the Corvallis community, including with da Vinci Days, the Corvallis Women’s Choir Jubilate!, and the Timberhill Tennis Club. Bea worked as an instructor in the Mathematics Department at LBCC for many years, including service as the President of the Part-Time Faculty Association there. During her tenure, the association engaged in collective bargaining with the college. Bea also served on the most recent LBCC presidential search committee. But what she really enjoyed was teaching.
Bea was diagnosed with ALS in January 2022, by which time she was unable to continue teaching. Still, she eagerly embraced the opportunity to work as MSLC Coordinator here in Kidder Hall. A number of her personal touches are still in place there. She spoke fondly and frequently about her co-workers in the department, especially the tutors and clerks with whom she worked; it was a sadness to her when she was unable to continue in that role due to her illness.
While at home during the past 2+ years, Bea had many lively and faithful visitors, which gave her life meaning as she navigated life with ALS. She was peaceful and surrounded by family and friends at her passing.
Read more about Beata's life at the McHenry Funeral Home
Dave Carlson
Dave received his Ph.D. in 1963 under Hans Schneider at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dave was immediately part of the mathematical and university community serving on committees at all levels of the university. His field of research was linear algebra and matrix theory. He had two Ph.D. students and a couple of masters students. He was originally from Southern California. After eighteen years, for personal reasons, he decided to take a professorship at San Diego State University in 1981. He remained there until his retirement, even serving at one point as the head of the department down there.
