Ross Allen Beaumont, 82, Was UW Math Professor

Miles away from the University of Washington, away from his books and office and away from vectors and algebra theories, mathematician Ross Allen Beaumont grew sweet peas, radishes and rhubarb in his tiny garden on Whidbey Island.

He loved the smell of the earth, the feel of the garden and the way the vegetables popped up every summer.

While everyone else in the neighborhood built expansive brick walls, Professor Beaumont made a simple fence for his garden at the summer home, using driftwood he had found while walking the beach.

"My father loved simple things in life like his garden. He made it a perfect place," said Linda Beaumont of Seattle.

Even when he became ill, he went to his garden and hammered in the stakes for his tomato plants.

After a short battle with lung cancer, Professor Beaumont, a resident of Seattle, died Saturday, Sept. 28, at a hospice in the company of his family. He was 82.

He was professor emeritus at the UW, where he specialized in modern algebra for 45 years. Professor Beaumont wrote three advanced math textbooks and supervised 12 doctoral theses.

Professor Beaumont was also chairman of the mathematics department for five years and served as president of the faculty senate. He was a recipient of a Ford Foundation grant and a member of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, N.J.

He received his bachelor and master of science degrees from the University of Michigan and his doctorate from the University of Illinois.

In the heady world of the mathematics department, Professor Beaumont was a standout, said fellow Professor James Jans, because he had a knack for jokes, laughed often and played a mean game of billiards.

Every day, Professor Beaumont met his friends for lunch and played a quick game at the faculty club. A running joke in the department was that he should have studied analytical geometry instead of equations as a way to improve his game.

"He was really one of the good guys," Jans said. "He was the one who everyone wanted to be with at department parties."

He loved his job and rarely missed a day at the UW, said Lois Beaumont, his wife of 56 years. She recalls her husband missing only five days of work, other than vacation and sabbaticals.

"He had an Old World style about him which, unfortunately, is becoming increasingly rare," said Professor Ramesh Gangolli. "He was gentle and extremely fair. He really liked to be around students and his colleagues."

Linda Beaumont said her father left her wonderful memories even when he was dying. They listened to the Mariners on the radio and she read him baseball statistics and scores when he was too weak to pick up the newspaper.

Other survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Tom and Mary Beaumont of Minneapolis. There will be a private service at Evergreen Memorial Park in Seattle. Remembrances can be made to the King County Humane Society at 13212 S.E. Eastgate Way, Bellevue, WA 98005.