Stephen M. Weingram obituary

11-21-2014

Professor Emeritus of Mathematics Stephen M. Weingram, 80, of West Lafayette, passed away on November 20, 2014 at St. Vincent Hospital in Frankfort.

Born March 2, 1934 in New York City, to the late Irving and Lillian Weingram, Dr. Weingram received his BS from MIT and his Ph.D. from Princeton University in Mathematics. Dr. Weingram was a professor at Purdue University for over 40 years in the department of mathematics, retiring in 2005. His marriage was to Florence Weingram on June 19, 1960 in New York City, and she survives.

Dr. Weingram's research was in algebraic topology, with results that included the development of a new algebraic approach to settle problems concerning homeomorphisms of special classes of spaces. He supervised two PhD students in Mathematics at Purdue and devoted a great deal of time to undergraduate teaching. Professor Weingram firmly believed in the value of a Purdue degree and demanded high performance standards from his students. He was recognized for his efforts on this front when he received the Favorite Science Professor award in 2005. This award was based on votes from alumni, one of whom wrote, "[Professor Weingram] was without a doubt the most articulate and enlightening of all my instructors. He had a way of presenting the material in such a way that it was very easy to assimilate and understand. I only hope that over the years I have been able to emulate his precision and clarity for my own students." This award included a ride on the Purdue Science Student Council float in the Homecoming Day Parade.

Surviving are his wife, Florence Weingram, West Lafayette, IN; sons, Howard Weingram, wife Lauren, Los Altos, CA; Seth Weingram, wife Victoria Cain, Brookline, MA; brother, Edward Weingram, wife Judy, Tenafly, NJ; and five grandchildren.

The funeral service was Sunday Nov. 23, 2014 at Soller-Baker West Lafayette Chapel. Rabbi Yisrael Gettinger officiated. Funeral services were followed by a graveside service at Sons of Abraham Cemetery in Lafayette.