Michael “Miki” Neumann, 64 years of age, of Auburn Rd., West Hartford, died suddenly Thursday, April 21, 2011. Born in Jerusalem, he was the son of the late Jehuda and Chava (Beregi) Neumann. He leaves his beloved wife, Helen (MacGowan) Neumann, a son, Joseph M. Neumann and his wife Rachel of Baltimore, MD; a daughter, Rachel M. Neumann and her husband Kuba Glazek of Philadelphia, PA, and a sister Orna M. Neumann of England.
Miki was the Stuart and Joan Sidney Professor of Mathematics, Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor and Head of the Department of Mathematics at the University of Connecticut. He earned his BSc from Tel Aviv University in 1970 and his PhD in Computer Science from London University in 1972. From 1973 to 1975, Miki taught at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, Israel. Subsequently, he taught at the Universities of Reading and Nottingham in England in their Departments of Mathematics. In 1980 Miki came with his young family to the United States and taught for five years at the University of South Carolina. In 1985 he came to the University of Connecticut as a full professor of Mathematics.
Miki was the devoted and supportive advisor to nine PhD students, all of whom went on to distinguished careers in Mathematics. Elected a member of the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2007, Miki was internationally known and recognized for his research in Numerical Linear Algebra, Matrix Theory and Linear Algebra, and Numerical Analysis. He published more than 150 scholarly articles, co-authored a book in his field and was working on another book at the time of his death.
Miki was an active, beloved and irreplaceable member of Beth David Synagogue. For the last 10 years, Miki rose at dawn to participate in daily Talmud study and was a committed participant in the daily minyan. With a passionate and enduring love for Israel, Miki led the prayer for the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces every Shabbat.
Funeral services will be held TODAY, Friday, April 22, 2011 at 1:00 PM in the Sanctuary of the Beth David Synagogue. 20 Dover Road, West Hartford with Rabbi Yitzchok Adler officiating. Interment will follow in the Beth David Synagogue Cemetery, 1361 Berlin Turnpike, Wethersfield. The memorial period will be observed at the Neumann home beginning after the Passover holiday on Tuesday night.
Memorial contributions may be made to Beth David Synagogue and the Friends of the IDF (http://www.fidf.org/).
Arrangements entrusted to Weinstein Mortuary, Hartford. For further information, directions, or to sign the guest book for Miki, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com/funerals.cfm