University of Western Ontario mathematics professor Richard Kane died Friday after a nine-month battle with kidney cancer. He was 66.
After earning a Ph.D. from the University of Waterloo in 1973, he held postdoctoral fellowships at Oxford and MIT as well as an assistant professorship at the University of Alberta. He was a visiting fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton before coming to Western in 1980.
Kane’s research was in the area of algebraic topology, particularly the homology theory of Lie groups, an area in which he had authored four monographs and numerous journal articles. He had supervised five PhD theses and had organized several workshops and conferences. His research contributions were recognized by his election to the Royal Society of Canada in 1988. Other honours include being named a Fields Institute Fellow in 2002 and receiving a University of Waterloo Faculty of Mathematics Alumni Achievement Medal in 2003.
Kane had served the CMS as chair of the research, finance and international affairs committees, vice president and as president (1998-2000). But he is particularly recognized for leadership nationally in building a strong research infrastructure for mathematics.
In 1994, the appreciation of mathematics education had reached a low ebb and allocation formulas for NSERC funding was in crisis. That perception left by the NSERC formulas spread to other granting agencies. In response, Kane led the efforts to examine the strengths and weaknesses of mathematics in Canada. This work served to build or enhance infrastructures such as the Fields Institute, Banff International Research Station, MITACS National Centre of Excellence (NCE), NSERC leadership support program and the Pacific Institute.
From 2003-2006 Kane served as Chair of the Mathematics Department and in 2006, he won the inaugural David Borwein Distinguished Career Award as well as the Canadian Mathematics Society Distinguished Service Award. In 2008 he was named one of Western’s Distinguished University Professors.
In 2010, Kane was appointed professor emeritus.
Family will receive friends at John T. Donohue Funeral Home, 362 Waterloo Street at King Street, on 2-4 p.m., 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5. A Vigil Service will be held at 8 p.m. Mass of the Resurrection will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 6 at Windermere on the Mount Chapel, 1486 Richmond St. Internment will follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made online to www.kidneycancercanada.org.