Joe Oliger
Sept. 3, 1941-Aug. 28, 2006
Truckee, California

Joe Oliger, 63, a former computer-science professor at Stanford University, died Aug. 28, 2006, at his home in Truckee, Calif., of cancer.

Born Sept. 3, 1941, in Greensburg, Ind., he attended the University of Colorado, earning his bachelor's degree in mathematics in 1966 and his master's degree in 1971. In 1973 he received a doctorate in computer science from the University of Uppsala, Sweden. Afterwards, he joined Stanford's computer-science department, becoming a full professor in 1980. He was an advisor and mentor for many graduate students. He wrote many technical articles, reports and books, including "Time Dependent Problems and Difference Methods," published in 1996.

A fan of the outdoors, an avid rock-climber and a skier, he loved the wilderness of the Sierra Nevadas, where he made his home after retiring in 2001.

He is survived by two sons, Jason Oliger and Nicholas Oliger of Truckee, Calif.; and one granddaughter.

Tags: teacher/educator