OBITUARY
Bert Kerr Waits
December 21, 1940 – July 27, 2014
Bert Kerr Waits II (AKA Hank Waits) age 73, born December 21 1940, died July 27, 2014 at Florida Hospital East in Orlando, Florida. Burial will be at the Mifflin Cemetery in Gahanna, Ohio. Dr. Waits was a Professor Emeritus from The Ohio State University where he taught in the Mathematics Department from 1961 to 1991. He also was a retired consultant for Texas Instruments, Education Technology Division, and a mathematics textbook author for Addison Wesley, Prentice Hall, and Holt McDougal. Dr. Waits received a BS, MS, and Ph.D. all from The Ohio State University in 1962, 1964, and 1969. He was the co-founder of Teachers Teaching with Technology program (http://education.ti.com/t3). He served on the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Board of Directors, was a member of the Advanced Placement Calculus Committee, co-author of the original NCTM 1989 Standards for Curriculum and Evaluation of School Mathematics, and author or co-author of over seventy articles in national and international mathematics and mathematics education journals. He gave over 200 invited lectures worldwide from 1988 to 2006. “The power of visualization” was his mantra and he directly or indirectly touched the lives of tens of thousands of students, teachers and colleagues worldwide. He also was a genealogical and historical researcher and authored several articles for the Ohio Genealogical Society. He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter Jones Waits and Ruth Virginia Thurman. He is survived by his wife of many years, Barbara Jean Finley, only sibling, Walter Nicholas Waits (Claudia) of Lehighton Pa.; sons David O’Brien Waits (Ursula) of Dublin, Ohio; and Jeffrey Thurman Waits (Janette) of Hilliard, Ohio; daughters Sherri Lynn Bartow of Corning, Ohio; Brigitte Amber Betosky (Jeff) of North Augusta, South Carolina; Brittany Renee Bartow-Skeens of Massillon, Ohio. Grandchildren, Michael O’Brien Waits, Marisa Anne Waits Jayson Blaies, Justin Blaies, Joey Shively, Darian Betosky, Jeffrey Betosky II, Robert Betosky, Samantha Skeens, Natalie Skeens, Stephen Skeens, Jr., Hunter Skeens, Stephanie Skeens, and Ashley Skeens. There will be a gathering to celebrate his life on August 16 from 12-4 at the Notting Hill Condominium Club House 1311 Villa Prima Way, Lake Mary, Florida 32746. Those wishing to attend the Florida gathering should RSVP Marisa Waits at Mwaits@kent.edu. A second gathering of friends will be on Sunday, September 28, 2014 at The Ohio State University Faculty Club, 181 Oval Drive South, Columbus, Ohio 43210. Time to be determined at a later date. Those wishing to attend the Columbus memorial should RSVP Ed Laughbaum at ed@redbankpublishing.com In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Bert Waits’ memory to: The Mathematics Education Trust (MET) of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), 1906 Association Drive, Reston, VA 20191-1502. Please designate your contribution to the Texas Instruments Demana-Waits Fund which supports the Prospective 7-12 Secondary Teacher Course Work Scholarships. MET channels the generosity of contributors through the creation and funding of grants, awards, honors, and other projects that support the improvement of mathematics teaching and learning. For more information, please visit www.nctm.org/met.
Services
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Gathering Celebration
Saturday, August 16, 2014
Memories
Bert Kerr Waits
have a memory or condolence to add?
ADD A MEMORYHarry & Neil
September 16, 2014
Neil and I are gutted to hear about Bert. He really did change are teaching of mathematics for the good.
August 25, 2014
So sorry for your loss; 2 Corinthians 3,4 The Nash Family
August 24, 2014
Sorry for your loss
Norman Webb
August 15, 2014
Bert's energy was catching. After living with him in the same suite while writing the standards, for years afterwards we referred to each other as "roomies." What a great spirit he was and so fun to be with.
August 9, 2014
Ahora descansa en paz, y nuestras plegarias se eleven al cielo, con la esperanza que hoy está en una dimensión donde podrá cuidar de sus seres queridos, y segura disfrutando de su pasión, la enseñanza de las matemáticas.
Con afecto desde. México,
Armando López Zamudio
August 9, 2014
Goodbye Hank,
We will miss you forever. We're glad that we shared the good times that we did before you had to go away. The recollection of our many dinners together and pleasant conversations on a never ending variety of topics will always be a bright spot in my memory.
Marcus, Yvonne, Anna, Anton & Katie
Maritza RN
August 8, 2014
I had the honor to care for Mr. Waits "Hank" and meet his wonderful family at FHE Orlando. I will always remember you all and my heart goes out to you with deepest sympathy.
George Walraven
August 8, 2014
So sorry for your loss Hank was always so nice to me when I would come over when we were kids
Wes & Patty Smith
August 7, 2014
David and Ursula - Patty and I are so very sorry to hear about Dr. Waits. It is my regret never to have met him but I know from David what a fine fellow and father he was. You have our deepest sympathies.
Bea Weaver
August 6, 2014
Barb,
I wanted to express my sorrow for your loss of Bert. Although I didn't know him well, I feel close to both of you because of the affection Jane and Wade have for you.
Bishnu Naraine
August 5, 2014
Dr. Waits was my advisor for the MA program (1984-86) and served on my doctoral committee 1986-89). He was an inspirational teacher and a wonderful human being. RIP.
Mike Shaughnessy
August 5, 2014
Bert was instrumental in helping me get my first job as a math educator at Oregon State University. Very few people realize that Bert had a big influence on mathematics education at OSU west (Oregon State), as he is most known for his impact on OSU east (Ohio State).
August 4, 2014
Barb,
I wanted to express my sorrow for your loss of Bert. Although I didn't know him well, I feel close to both of you because of the affection Jane and Wade have for you.
Stefani Hennessee
August 4, 2014
I was luckily enough to find this cousin of my through my genealogy work. I felt as if I had known him my entire life! He was such a wonderful, humble, down-to-earth man and someone I am proud to call my cousin. He is already greatly missed. Hank, I hope you are resting in peace. You will never be forgotten. My deepest condolences to Barb and the rest of Hank's family.
Sybrina King
August 4, 2014
Bert was an amazing educator with an incredible passion for empowering all math students through the power of visualization. His work made such a difference for the students in my classroom. Please know I am so grateful for having learned from and worked with Bert. My thoughts and prayers remain with you at this time.
Mj
August 4, 2014
My thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult times for your loss.
ivan jarrett
August 4, 2014
Knew Hank only for short time but even before i knew about him i could tell he was a giant of a man, He first loved and accepted me. My deepest condolences to his wonderful family
Ivan Jarrett(caregiver)
Andy Kelly
August 3, 2014
I got the chance to meet Bert through his son Jeff when I was in the fifth grade. He took us camping on his land in Hocking Hills. I remember going up several times to split firewood and have fun. He even showed Jeff and I how to drive a stick shift on his old Jeep. Good Times.
Bert was always just a genuine guy with a great sense of humor. That is how I will always remember him.
Carol Taylor Del
August 3, 2014
I am so sorry to hear of Dr. Waits' passing.
I worked for Dr. Waits in the Math Dept at Ohio State during my senior year, 1969-70. He was such a terrific teacher.
August 2, 2014
So very sorry to read of Hanks's death. I did a lot of research for him in his quest for his Wacht Pennsylvania ancestors, genealogy being another of his avid interests. He was cheerful, gregarious, and fun to work for. My husband and I fondly recall dinner with Hank and Barb several summers ago. My condolences to Barb and all the family.
Mimi
State College
Daniels
August 2, 2014
Our deepest sympathies to the family. As you remember Bert, may it always bring you comfort. He will obviously be greatly missed.
May the God who gives peace help you through this difficult time.
Cathy DeCarlo
August 2, 2014
Barbara and family,
Bert was a wonderful human being and he will be missed greatly. You are in my prayers through this difficult time. Love to all who are mourning Bert's passing.
Peter Balyta
August 1, 2014
To Barb and the rest of Bert's family:
My deepest condolences.
Bert will always have special place in the hearts of so many people at TI, in mathematics education and classrooms around the world, and all of us who have had the great fortune to experience Bert's wisdom, heart, and humor over the years. He was a true visionary in the field of math education, the co-founder of T3 – Teachers Teaching with Technology, and the champion of the “power of visualization†and the graphing calculator. TI, educators, and students owe a tremendous debt to his vision, advocacy, hard work, and commitment.
Bert's passion for encouraging teachers to share their learning and expertise with others was infectious. He was one of the key reasons I became a T3 instructor and then a TIer. I will never forget the moment Bert accepted my nomination into the T3 community.
He had a tremendous impact on my life and the lives of so many teachers and students around the world. Bert's legacy will continue to improve the lives of millions of teachers and students for many years to come.
Thank you for sharing him with us.
July 31, 2014
Siempre te recordaremos. y tus enseñanzas siempre perduraran..
Paz en su tumba.
Manuel Antonio Montero Gaona (Bogotà , Colombia)
Manuel Montero
July 31, 2014
Sus enseñanzas siempre estarán presentes y siempre te recordaremos.
Paz en tu tumba..
Ximena Torres
July 31, 2014
Lamento la partida de Bert y envÃo mis sentimientos a su familia.
Que descanse en paz.
Su legado, permanecerá en el tiempo.
Sylviane Sertori
July 31, 2014
Kristen Maxwell
July 31, 2014
I am so sorry for your loss. I will always remember the first time I met Bert. It was during my student teaching with Pam Giles in Utah in 1992. When she introduced us, Bert was just as interested in me and what I thought about technology as he probably was with any of his colleagues. He helped me see that all of us have ideas and opinions to add. Thank you for sharing him with us.
Juan Gonzalez
July 30, 2014
I am sorry for your loss. He was my mentor. He opened my eyes to the "power of visualization".
Patricia Dykes
July 28, 2014
I am so very sorry for your loss.
James/Wendy Emory
July 28, 2014
So sorry to hear about Burt. He was a kind and wonderful man. Our prayers are with his wife and family.
July 28, 2014
His light shone everyday that he was hear on this earth. This light then made mine shine brighter and will continue to do so because of the extra spark he gave me to carry with me for all of my days.
Love, Heather Fredin Wise