Math Memories

Math Memories
by Florence Welling

In September 1963 I was hired as a one-year temporary replacement for William Swyter in the Department of Mathematics. Bill was leaving on his sabbatical year.
During my interview, the chairman, Harvey Cheston, asked if I knew anything about business mathematics. When I replied, “Nothing at all,” he said “Well, never mind, we have a man who likes to teach it.” The next semester, there I was, scheduled to teach “Mathematics of Finance.” I wore a path in the hall between Bill Swyter’s office and that of the late dear Maynard Trott, the “man who liked to teach it.” Maynard explained the meaning of the words in the problems so that I could begin to solve them ahead of the students. I learned how to amortize a mortgage, something I remember to this day.

The next year, when Bill Swyter returned, I was sent up to the attic (fourth floor of the Academic Building) to share an office with one of the English teachers, who said that if he had to share he would not have an English teacher who might be constantly reading him bits and pieces of compositions. I found myself in one corner of the attic room under a slanting roof. At the end of the year, when I was leaving to teach on the Rockville Campus, this fellow congratulated me on being a good roommate. It seems I had never borrowed any of his pencils or dared to use his typewriter.

Those two years at Takoma Park were memorable for lunch hours. Every day I would tell my husband about the interesting conversations around the lunch table. Bud Hanks and Jake Jacoby sparked an entertaining give-and-take every noontime.

In Rockville the departments were isolated in separate buildings, and a good deal of the inter-departmental camaraderie was lost. However, the faculty members of the Mathematics Department were always warm, friendly, and cooperative. We had great parties until the department grew too large to meet in most houses.

I still have good friends at the College with whom I share memories of some of the best years of my life.

Takoma Park and Rockville Campuses: Mathematics Department, 1963–1982; Professor Emerita.