Richard Larson, PhD, 79, a longtime resident of Oak Park, died on Sept. 15, 2019. Born on May 16, 1940, he was a mathematician and computer scientist who spent most of his career as a faculty member in the Department of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science at the University of Illinois Chicago. He received his PhD in Mathematics from the University of Chicago in 1965, spent two years as a faculty member at MIT, and joined UIC in 1967. He spent almost 40 years at the university, becoming an emeritus professor in 2006, and was a Fulbright Lecturer in the Philippines in 1978.
When he came to Chicago, he joined the Department of Mathematics at what was then called the University of Illinois Chicago Circle. His field of study was an area of abstract algebra called Hopf algebras. He became interested in how Hopf algebras could be used to provide insights into different areas of applied mathematics and computer science, including control theory. Working with a colleague during his sabbatical, he defined an algebra on a type of graph called trees that became known as the Grossman-Larson algebra and turned out to be useful for physicists doing computations in quantum field theory. An early advocate for computer science, he published several research papers in computer science, and taught many of the mathematical computer science courses offered by the department. He was also active in the late ’80s in outreach to local high schools, teaching courses for teachers at the schools — particularly related to computer science.
He enjoyed bicycling and would sometimes commute via bicycle from his home in Oak Park to work at UIC.
Richard Larson was preceded in death by his wife, Roberta “Bobbie” Raymond and is survived by his stepsons, Charles Raymond and Bruce, Phillip and Gordon Hay, and many friends.
Arrangements were handled by Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home.