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Richard Scott

Richard (“Rick”) Scott passed away in the company of family, at his home in Santa Clara, Calif., on April 12, 2023.

Rick was born in Woodland, Calif., and grew up in Shingle Springs. He was a quiet and inquisitive kid, a talented clarinet player, and a member of the Academic Decathlon team. He graduated valedictorian from Ponderosa High School in 1984. After attending Santa Clara University (’88), he pursued graduate studies in mathematics at MIT. Upon completion of his PhD and two post-doctoral fellowships, Rick returned to his native California to join the faculty at Santa Clara University in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science in 1997. An accomplished scholar, Rick achieved the distinction of Professor in 2011, and in 2014, received a prestigious Simons Faculty Collaboration Grant to support his numerous collaborations with colleagues around the world. Rick cared deeply about his students and was widely admired and awarded for his excellent teaching, and his success at engaging undergraduate students in research at a high level.

Rick’s deep love of mathematics and music was shared among family and friends. He enjoyed playing cards, playing the guitar, and camping and fishing. His sharp wit, easy humor, and generosity will be profoundly missed.

Rick is survived by his wife, Norine Hendricks, and two daughters, Audrey and Emily Scott. Predeceased by his sister Linda Scott Laverne, Rick is also survived by his parents, Stan and Carol, siblings Nancy and Terry (Ana Raphael), brother-in-law Christophe Laverne, and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at the Santa Clara Mission Church on Sunday, June 4 at 1:00 p.m. All are invited to attend.

Expressions of condolence may be sent to Rick’s family, care of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at Santa Clara University. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the department’s Alexanderson-Pennello Fund in memory of Rick, to support an annual Rick Scott Memorial Scholar award for a student to carry out research in the field of mathematics that Rick loved so much.

John C. Williamson

Feb. 5, 1945 – May 10, 2023

It is with great sorrow that John C. Williamson passed away on May 10, 2023. John was born in Montebello, Calif., to Nelson and Virginia Williamson. He was adopted by Gordon Williamson at a young age. John spent his youth in Southern California and moved to Northern California at age 13 yrs. He graduated from Elk Grove High School in 1963. He played football all of his high school years and at Sierra College. He married Karen Williamson in 1966 and they had 4 children together. John joined the National Guard and afterward, started his career as a fire fighter at the Florin Fire Department in Sacramento. He then became a Fire Captain at Incline Village and next, a Battalion Chief at Kings Beach in Lake Tahoe. John then became the Fire Chief for Pleasant Valley (in El Dorado County) at age 28 where he remained until his retirement. He is preceeded in death by his special grandparents William and Stella Brown, parents Gordon and Virginia Williamson, Nelson and Naydeen McMann, and his daughter Kasey Williamson-Konan, and his brother Tom Williamson. He is survived by his wife Karen, his daughter Kristen Williamson-Pott (Jay), his son’s Johnny II (Kimberly), Bill (Sondra), and Kurt (Beth), grandchildren Angela, Jack, Michelle, Alexandra, Landon and Kaiden; sisters Marilyn (Hugh) Douglas, and Susan (Craig) Jacobsen. He will be dearly missed by all his family. Services were held at Westwood Hills Memorial Park on May 22.