He is, and I use the present tense because he always will be in my mind, a point of light for me in life - knowing that such a human being was put here on earth helps me have hope for humanity.
To do great Mathematics is wonderful - but he was able to combine that with a kind of human compassion that few of us have come to know or appreciate. His beautiful Mathematics will live on through us. I was very fortunate to have known Marvin, both Mathematically and personally, and I hope to transmit some of that fortune to others now. Recently I sent him a postcard, made of cork, because I know how much he liked one-on-one communication rather than mass-media style communication. This point that he made (refusing to read emails as well) was an interesting one, and marks his wisdom to stand against a modern stampede towards an over-use of technology. I think that as time moves on, we will realize more and more his wisdom to moderate techonology by maintaining a human touch and a basic human caring for each other. We can all still learn from his wisdom. I miss his kind smile, I miss his very pointed sense of humor, and I so miss Marvin, the man whom I was so very fortunate to call my friend.
