Remembrances or condolences for Dr Wenbo V. Li

Alex de Acosta

I was shocked and saddened by Wenbo's too early passing away. We have lost prematurely a wonderful colleague and a very fine mathematician. My deepest condolences to his family.

Shige Peng

It’s really a big shock for me to learn this sad news that Wenbo left us.
He had full of energy and enthusiasm to explore wild and beautiful mountains as well as problems in mathematics. I had many memorable excursions with Wenbo in Jian-Kou Greal Wall near Beijing, in Calanques near Luminy, in Shandong’s Qunyu Mountain and Tai Mountain and everywhere with so simulated and interesting discussions. We still have several projects of explorations.
My deepest condolence to his wife and his family.

Ross Pinsky

I was shocked and saddened to learn of Wenbo's untimely death. Wenbo accomplished more before the age of 50 than many productive, mathematicians accomplish in a full career.
His initiative to bring Chinese students to Delaware was impressive. Wenbo was a fine probabilist and also
knew a lot of classical analysis. I always enjoyed visiting Wenbo and giving a seminar talk. In particular,
I fondly remember giving a talk, suggesting a related open problem, and then having Wenbo and two colleagues--Rekash and Yuk Leung--send me a solution a few months later. The general subject was probability, but their solution used a lot of beautiful classical analysis.

My deep condolences to his wife and son.

Frank Aurzada

I have experienced Wenbo as an energetic, powerful, and - most importantly - very happy person. Not only was he knowledgeable and extremely gifted, but it was great fun to discuss and work with him.

He and his work have been inspiring for me ever since I started with my PhD. Me and many other young people have greatly benefited from his enthusiam to teach others and to tell them about interesting problems.

I will miss an important colleague and a friend. My deep condolecence to Wenbo's family.

Haihua Qin

I am shocked to hear the sad news. I met professor Li for the first time in 2009 when I visited to University of Delaware and since then he has offered me much help. He is always so kind and enthusiasm. I have benefited a lot from his advice and help. I feel very fortunate to have known him. He will be missed greatly. My deepest condolences to his family.

Weijuan Chu

We were talking on the phone just one before I was told the bad news. We discussed some probability problems and these conferences coming in June. His voice and words will be embedded in my memory forever.

Parthanil Roy

Prof. Wenbo Li was a really kind person who was so full of life. It's very very difficult to believe he is no more. I met him twice - once when he came to give a talk in Michigan State University and then in a conference in Shanghai. In both occasions, he was very supportive, kind and encouraging to me. I shall remember him as one of the liveliest persons I have ever met.

Lijian Yang

I got this sad news today. I wish all comfort, healing and strength to Prof. Li's family in such a time like this.

Sincerely,

Lijian Yang

Oana Mocioalca

Words are not enough to express the sadness of Wenbo's sudden departure. A brilliant colleague, a cheerful and energetic presence in our community, but especially a friend, he will be deeply missed.

My deepest sympathy to his family.

LIU Yong

I am very saddened by this news. Wenbo is a great friend, he was always so enthusiastic and kind. I always enjoyed talking about math and hiking with him.

My deepest condolences go to his family.

Rick Vitale

Wenbo, I am stunned that you're gone. It was just a short while ago that we reconnected after so many years. Your talk was a delight, of course, a bracing stroll through Gaussiana with you as initimable guide. And at the dinner after, your exuberance a joy to experience once again, as the years seemed to melt away. It is a bittersweet gift, but one very dear to me, to have this memory of you. Perhaps we shall meet again....for now, I wish you a peaceful rest.

Enwen Zhu

I am saddened to learn of the passing of professor Li. He was a kind and thoughtful man. He would do anything to help someone in need. This is a big loss for everybody. I send my thoughts and prayers to his wife, his family, and all those who loved him.

Peter Mörters

Unbelievably sad to see one of the friendliest and nicest people in probability go so young. I will always treasure our discussions in StPetersburg and Delaware. My thoughts are with Wenbo's family...

Raghu Varadhan

I remember visiting University of Delaware during Spring 2011. Wenbo was the perfect host and made my visit enjoyable and memorable. I will miss him both as a colleague and s a friend. My condolences
to his family.

Raghu varadhan

David Nualart

I was shocked and very sad to learn that Wenbo Li passed away. He was an excellent colleague and a great person. This is a big loss for everybody. My deepest condolences to Wenbo's wife and son.

Xiru Ma

Wenbo, I cherish you deeply! I am deeply saddened and shocked to got the news that you left us forever. Your mother, father and I cry on each other's shoulder. Why did you go so suddenly and our hearts are broken.
My dear student, the five years you get along with us (the period of The junior and senior high school), let me recall your superhuman wisdom, your spirit of thinking , asking and question more, your expression of concentration and pursuit of truth in your eyes; Especially, your strong feelings of love to classmates, teachers and your school, it is firm like steel. All these memory endless, lots to talk about ...
Wenbo, you are the representative of the younger generation, and your parents, teachers, classmates, and friends in here wish you rest in peace in another world!
Your high school teacher, Xiru Ma, 81 years old, 2013.01.30
(Uploaded by Yanbao YIN，NEFU, Harbin, P. R. China)

Richard Dudley

It was a shock to me to hear of Wenbo's
passing. I hope that the family will
feel strengthened by all the good wishes, and I add my condolences. I appreciated very much Wenbo's efforts in organizing meetings. In Santa Fe,
I only once got up early enough to join
in one of the hikes he led before breakfast.

Fang Liu

My deep condolences to Wenbo's family. I knew Wenbo as his student in Math 630 and Math 631, where I benefited from his excellent teaching. His passion on hiking also inspired my life. I'd like to express my deepest thanks to him.

I sincerely hope that Sunny and their children could go through this tough moment. There are always people who would like to comfort them, including me.

Diane Klonowski

I am so sorry to hear of Dr. Li's passing. My heart goes out to Mrs. Li and Jimmy. Dr Li was a kind and gentle soul.

Many years ago, he introduced me to jasmine pearl tea and I always remember that when I have a cup.

May all your happy memories help you through this most difficult time.
Di Klonowski

Krzysztof Oleszkiewicz

My sincere condolences to Wenbo's family. He was a very kind person and a mathematician eager to share his passion for research. His death will sadden many.

Rakesh

Someone should have warned Wenbo about making too many friends. Now Sunny is having a hard time finding a place large enough for the memorial service.

Wenbo and Sunny had done ballroom dancing in the past so when Jamie went to study at USC they had time to spare and decided to try folk dancing (Eastern European) with a group I was a part of. While Wenbo may have been balletic on the ski slopes, the ice rink, and the soccer field, folk dancing was not quite his cup of tea. On the other hand, Sunny had a natural talent for it and she continued to come folk dancing every Friday evening - without Wenbo. However, this only lasted a few months, when Sunny decided, Friday nights with Wenbo were even more fun.

I knew Wenbo as a colleague, collaborator and a friend. While Wenbo worked in Probability and I in Differential Equations, we shared a love for Analysis, and Wenbo had a large collection of challenging problems Wenbo, YJ and I had an interest in.

We know of the excellence of Wenbo’s research and his mentoring of graduate students. However, Wenbo also had a keen interest in providing mathematics enrichment opportunities for students in middle and high school. I believe he ran the mathematics enrichment program at the Chinese Community Center for two years and, with Felix Lazebnik, he ran a problem solving correspondence program for high school students, for two years. In the Fall of 2012, Leo, Jon and I started a UD Math Circle for high school students and Wenbo was very enthusiastic about it. Wenbo was scheduled to be the session leader on Saturday, Feb 2 - unfortunately he passed away the week before. Here is the email he sent me about the problem he planned to discuss.

---------------
Hi Rakesh,
Please feel free to edit for the talk.
Wenbo

Title: Which serving rule is better on one-on-one game?

You are playing a one-on-one game against an opponent in which for each point either you serve or your opponent does, like one-on-one basketball game and every basket is worth one point. If you serve then you win the point with probability p; if your opponent serves then you win the point with probability q. Consider three (maybe more proposed by you) possible conventions for serving: (i) serves alternate; (ii) serves by winner (winner's outs); (iii) serves by loser (loser's outs).

You serve first and the first player to reach n points wins the whole match. For n=2 and 3, which rule is better (in terms of probability) for you to win the match? Can you make a guess for n = 4, 5, ...?
---------------

Magda Peligrad

I am deeply saddened by the death of Wenbo. I know him since he was a student. Now, 22 years later, in my eyes, Wenbo remained the same young and kind person, full of enthusiasm, energy and passion for research. He will be deeply missed by me and the probability community.
My deepest condolences to Wenbo's wife and son.

Dongsheng Wu

My deepest condolences to Sunny and Jamie.

It was a great honor for me to know Wenbo as a good friend, a wonderful mentor, an excellent probabilist and a great person. Rest in peace, Wenbo.

Elton P. Hsu

I am greatly saddened by the death of my close friend Wenbo. It came so suddenly that I couldn't imagine for the last few days that he is gone forever. He and I have already had many activities planned for the year, hiking, skiing, proving inequalities, etc. We have done some many things like these for the last few years, alone with him or together with other friends. On all these trips with
me, he was always considerate and helpful. I have many pictures taken during our trips and they are good memories I have of my dear friend.

My heartfelt condolences to Wenbo's family.

Jiguang Sun and Yangping Ou

Deepest condolences to Sunny and Jimmy. As an excellent scholar, a wonderful friend, and a great person, Wenbo will be remembered.