John Hempel

John Paul Hempel (October 14, 1935 – January 13, 2022[1]) was an American mathematician specialising in geometric topology, in particular the topology of 3-manifolds and associated algebraic problems, mainly in group theory.[2]

John Hempel
Born(1935-10-14)October 14, 1935
Salt Lake City, Utah
DiedJanuary 13, 2022(2022-01-13) (aged 86)
St. Petersburg, Florida
Alma materUniversity of Utah
University of Wisconsin-Madison
SpouseEdith Hempel
Scientific career
FieldsMathematics
InstitutionsRice University
ThesisA surface in S3 is tame if it can be deformed into each complementary domain (1962)
Doctoral advisorR. H. Bing

Early life and career

Hempel was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. In 1957 he graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in mathematics. In 1962, he defended his thesis at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, under the supervision of R. H. Bing.[3] He was a professor at Rice University until the time of his death.[1]

He was married to Edith, whom he married on September 1, 1965, in Houston, Texas. He had 1 son and 3 grandchildren.[1]

Outside of mathematics, Hempel was a nature enthusiast. As a child he was adventurous, and taught himself to mountain bike. He was also fascinated by camping, climbing, skiing and boating. In addition, he knew how to play the piano.[4] In 2013, Hempel was elected a fellow of the American Mathematical Society.[5]

Hempel showed that the fundamental groups of 2-manifolds are residually finite.[6] He also introduced the study of the curve complex into 3-manifold topology.[7]

Hempel wrote a book called 3-manifolds in 1976.[8][9][10][11] His research was in topology.[12]

References
  1. "Obituary of John Paul Hempel | Anderson-McQueen - N.E. St. Petersburg Family Tribute Center". andersonmcqueen.com. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  2. "John Hempel | Faculty | The People of Rice | Rice University". profiles.rice.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  3. John Hempel at the Mathematics Genealogy Project
  4. "John Hempel - 1687 East 900 South, Hempel House". DiestelMichigan - Our Home. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  5. "Fellows of the American Mathematical Society". American Mathematical Society. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
  6. "algebraic topology - John Hempel's proof of residual finiteness of surface groups". Mathematics Stack Exchange. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  7. Hempel, John (2001). "3-manifolds as viewed from the curve complex". Topology. 40 (3): 631–657. doi:10.1016/S0040-9383(00)00033-1. S2CID 16532184. Zbl 0985.57014.
  8. Hempel, John (1976). 3-manifolds. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-8218-6939-0.
  9. "Hempel: 3-Manifolds". American Mathematical Society. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  10. Scott, G. P. (1977-11-01). "3-MANIFOLDS". Bulletin of the London Mathematical Society. 9 (3): 345–346. doi:10.1112/blms/9.3.345.
  11. "3-Manifolds | Mathematical Association of America". www.maa.org. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  12. "In Memory Of ... John Hempel". American Mathematical Society. 12 April 2022. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
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