I would like to thank everyone for their kind words and thoughtful remembrances about my father, Bjorn Jawerth. It has meant a lot to us to read all of these memories and stories you each shared about him.

We have now set up our own memorial page for my father, and it can be found at:

bjornjawerthmemorial.wordpress.com. 

We welcome you to this page where you can share your comments, thoughts, memories, links, etc. It also includes details about his life and his work, as well as how to reach us if you are interested in attending his memorial celebration on November 24, 2013, in Stockholm, Sweden.

Thank you again.

With kind regards,

Niki Jawerth

bjornjawerthmemorial.wordpress.com

When I heard the news I felt that a whole chapter of my life has been wiped out. 

I arrived at Washington University as a graduate student and I walked into a wonderland inhabited by fairies and wizards.  

The first memory I have of Bjorn is of him stepping out of Cupples II into the quadrangle holding his little daughter in his arms.  It was a summer evening and students and faculty were gathering in the quadrangle to listen to a concert.  

A year or so later it happened that I started to talk with Bjorn about a certain problem.  We ended up talking about translations and dilations and about phi and psi.  So long ago that I did not know, then, that we were talking about wavelets.

One day Guido called Bjorn and me to his office and he said that Bjorn was going to be my advisor.  I am forever grateful to Guido for that. Bjorn was the best advisor in the world for me during the best of all possible times.  He is one of the main people in my life. He was generous and enthusiastic. He gave of his time, his insight, his advice.

Bjorn was never too tired or too busy to listen. I used to tell him about my idea of the day during the first coffee break, Swedish style, at 11 o'clock, in Holmes Lounge.  We gathered, a few graduate students or young faculty, around one of the large round wooden tables.  I never solved my problem during these talks but rather I replaced it with a new one. I used to talk with Bjorn about the new problem during the second coffee break at 3 o'clock.  I also learned during one of these coffee breaks that Bjorn means bear in Swedish. 

Bjorn talked with a clarity and transparency that I had never encountered before or after. When I talked with him I could see farther and my ideas acquired definition.  It was invigorating to be around him. He seemed to draw on invisible sources of energy that became temporarily available to you too.  

Bjorn told me once to go ahead and celebrate a theorem right away lest there be nothing to celebrate later. It was good advice given the volatility of my proofs.  I wonder now whether he was talking from personal experience although that is hard to believe since his mathematical constructions seemed to me perfect from the first draft.

Bjorn was generous not only as a mathematician but also as a person.  He helped us 
often, Dan and me, with the needs and concerns we had as young people in a new country.

During these last weeks almost anything I do reminds me of Bjorn.  Whether I use LaTex, or Mathematica or whether I simply type three question marks in the middle of a file to remember that something is missing.  Bjorn is alive in my memory. He is still the youthful man, brilliant and focused, that he used to be when I saw him for the last time in South Carolina.  

I owe it to Bjorn that for a few magical years I had a beautiful mathematical life.  I miss Bjorn.

Dr. Jawerth was my professor, my boss, and a good friend of mine. He had endless enthusiasm on studies and works. It had deep impact to me. He was also a very kindness man. I have great respect for him.

Björn was one great human; I miss him much!

If anything, Bjorn was tough. Nonetheless, the day before his first surgery, I handed Bjorn a copy of the Tao Teh Ching. Perhaps I was hoping that the words would help ease his way through the bitter battle that I imagined lie ahead.
But, as the days passed, you could tell that his illness was a minor distraction from his dreams - more like a mosquito buzzing a picnic. Given all that befell him, you had to admire the sheer force of will that kept his dreams on track.
The suddenness of his departure, took some of us who talked to him daily by surprise. He never let on that he was slipping. Even in his parting moments, he issued directions and began designing his next project.
And then the Universe was still -

This was sad news. We just talked about Björn this weekend when we meet with some old Summus friends. I will always be grateful towards Björn and his generosity when he help me and Lotta come over from Sweden to work in his company.

He was a great individual and a pleasure to work with. I will miss you.

My heartfelt sympathy and prayers go out to his loved ones. I am thankful to have been a part of the Summus team and seeing first hand the "vision beyond time" Bjorn offered to all of us.

Bjorn was truly a unique person, that was a great inspiration to me in many ways, both personally and professionally. I am so sorry to hear about Bjorn's passing, but am grateful that I got the opportunity to be his friend. You and your family are in my thoughts.

It is sad to hear him passing away. I remember him as a relentless explorer and a man ahead of his time. Now the world may get a chance to catch up.

So sorry to hear. 61 is way too young to die. My father lived to be the same age. Bjorn was a great inspiration to me as well. It saddens me to see him go.

I'm so very sad and sorry to hear about Bjorn's passing. I will always treasure the creative times we had together working on various projects, or just simply having coffee and chatting about life in general. He always inspired me to give my best in my efforts and challenge myself to be better. Bjorn was one of a kind, and is deeply missed.

Came to you to study wavelets but ended up being more than anything else inspired; inspired by your wit, curious character and positive attitude. I will always Bear you in mind. Thank you Björn.

May he rest in peace after a rich, full life.

Best friends since our first day at school. Trees will be planted in your name near Lake Victoria, Africa. May those trees give shelter and shade to many lives and may your memory stimulate their growth, as you did help so many people grow in your life time, Björn. Thank you for that - Roland

OBITUARY

Bjorn David Jawerth

25 November, 1952 – 2 September, 2013

Brown-Wynne Funeral Home

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