Members of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) were deeply saddened to learn that Professor John F. Nash, Jr., the internationally renowned Nobel Laureate and our
Honorary Graduate, and his wife Alicia passed away in a traffic accident in New Jersey, USA, on 23 May.

PolyU is proud to be associated with Professor Nash, the mathematical giant of the twentieth century and among the very few who were known outside academia. In October 2011, Professor Nash was conferred PolyU’s Degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa, and during his brief stay in Hong Kong, he touched the hearts and enlightened the minds of over 1,000 young students through a sharing of his passion for life and his intellectual insight.

At PolyU, we salute the life and achievements of Professor Nash. We will always remember him as a dear friend and partner, and we offer our deepest condolences to his family.

Timothy W. Tong, Ph.D.
President
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

With great sadness the European Mathematical Society has learned of the tragic deaths of John Nash and his wife Alicia. This came a mere four days after Professor Nash received the Abel Prize from the hands of the Norwegian King and we were able to express to him congratulations of the whole European mathematical community. It is hard to believe that this great mathematician has left us so abruptly. The memory of John Nash will live on, in the diverse and deep results with which he has so enriched our subject. We send our condolences to all of his and Alicia’s family and friends.

John F. Nash Jr., Ph.D., Princeton 1950, Non-Cooperative Games. A one sentence letter written in support of his application to Princeton’s doctoral program in math simply said, “This man is a genius.” Thank you for all your brilliant gifts to mankind, your “equilibrium” and certainly your beautiful mind. The likes of your mastery of mathematics; your wizardry of innovation and your breathtakingly abstract thinking, will never pass this way, on this earth, again. R.I.P.