John M. Slye
1923–2014
John Marshall Slye, 90, passed away from natural causes at his home in Louisville on September 26, 2014. Although John was born and died here in Boulder, he spent the vast majority of his life pursuing the mysteries of science and mathematics elsewhere. John was born in Boulder on November 27, 1923 to John Dolson Slye and Ursula Patton. He spent his first ten years in Denver then lived in Santa Fe, NM during his teens. After graduating from Santa Fe High School in 1941, John attended California Institute of Technology (Pasadena, CA), graduating with a B.S. in Physics in 1945. After his time at Cal Tech, John worked at Los Alamos during the development of the H-Bomb. His continued thirst for knowledge took him to Austin, TX where he earned his Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Texas. Shortly thereafter, John was awarded a position teaching math at the University of Minnesota. Fourteen years of frigid Minnesota seemed long enough for John, though, so he accepted the role of Professor of Mathematics at the University of Houston, a post he cherished for decades before macular degeneration forced him to lay down his beloved pencils. After having endured both the frozen North and sweltering South for a lifetime, John embraced Boulder's pleasantly livable climate for his retirement years. Since 1997, John lived in Boulder County, the place where both his grandfathers made their careers: one as a judge, one as a gold spectator. His golden years afforded him the opportunity to embrace his love for classical music, opera, and the arts in general. John was preceded in death by his parents, as well as his brother, Edwin Slye (Cheyenne, WY) who died February 12, 2006. A private graveside service will take place, and both brothers will rest side-by-side at Green Mountain Cemetery in Boulder. Memorial contributions may be made to Meals on Wheels of Boulder, 909 Arapahoe Road, #121, Boulder, CO 80302
Published in The Boulder Daily Camera on Oct. 12, 2014
See also: Fitzpatrick, B., "The Students of R.L. Moore".