Statistics (COWIS) from
2003–2008 and was in the
process of compiling its his-
tory at the time of her death.
In her work for the ASA
Day-Long Conference
and the caucus, Williams
was a pillar of institutional
knowledge, good judg-
Highlights Pure Research
ment, and support. She
was a constant presence at
Kumer Pial Das
JSM, and attended for the
last time in Salt Lake City,
Utah, in 2007. She also par-
ticipated in the delegation
of statisticians to China that
Lynne Billard led in 1998.
Williams’ interests outside
of statistics were far-reaching.
She was a world traveler and
an avid athlete. At Irvine, she
played soccer. She was a life-
guard and figure skater in her
youth and continued to love
swimming. She also loved
tennis, hiking, biking, skiing,
and kayaking. Her daughter,
Deirdre Fisher Shoemaker of
Malibu, California, is quoted
in a Boston Globe obituary
as saying that her mother’s
favorite activity was “taking
walks to get a latte.” While in Students and faculty recently met for a day-long conference at Lamar University.
Washington, Williams was
a member of the Arlington
Cooperative Organization,
a food co-op in Arlington,
Virginia, that ran a store
T
he Lamar University Department of Joanne Baker, professor of mathemat-
Mathematics hosted a day-long confer- ics, presided over the afternoon session,
ence titled “Probability, Statistics, where Ambar Sengupta of Louisiana State
called The Uncommon
and Related Areas” on February 28, 2009. University, Paul Chiou of Lamar University,
Market for many years.
The research conference was sponsored by and Nabendu Pal of the University of
At the time of her
the Graduate Research Committee o f Louisiana at Lafayette presented their
death, Williams was liv-
the Department of Mathematics at Lamar research paper.
ing in Oxnard, California,
University, which anticipates hosting another The closing session was presided over
where she had moved from
conference next year on a different area of math- by Valentin Andreev of Lamar University.
Washington, DC, in 2005.
ematical sciences. Das; Melinda Holt of Sam Houston State
She was married and divorced
Kumer Pial Das, assistant professor in the University; Julius Esunge, a graduate student
twice. In addition to her
Department of Mathematics, Charles Coppin, at Louisiana State University; and Reena Patel,
daughter, she is survived by
chair of the Department of Mathematics, and a Lamar University graduate student, delivered
two brothers; three grand-
Steve Doblin, Lamar University provost spoke their research paper.
children; and many nieces,
during the welcoming session. All thanked the All the speakers presented pure research
nephews, and cousins.
speakers from around the country. papers about such topics as inflation, the cur-
The family held a West
Judy Kennedy, professor of mathemat- rent economy, biostatistics, the stochastic pro-
Coast memorial service
ics, presided over the morning session, where cess, and ruin probability.
April 9 in Malibu. A second
Dennis Cox of Rice University, G. Ladde About 60 people attended the confer-
service will be held in the
of the University of South Florida, Hui- ence. Next year’s conference will be held at
Braintree, Massachusetts,
Huisung Kuo of Louisiana State University, the University of South Florida. For more
area in August.
and Jeremy Becnel of Stephen F. Austin State information, visit
www.math.lamar.edu/
University presented their research paper. statconference. ■
MAY 2009 AMSTAT NEWS 45
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