Page 41 - THE MATHMATE November 2024
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Remembering Three superstars in
mathematics education in South Carolina
Lane Peeler
During the 2022 SCCTM Conference, Leigh • Although most of her career was devoted to
Martin and I began to reminisce about four math the love of mathematics, she had degrees in
superstars that had passed away recently. Some both mathematics and physics and spent her
educators may not remember them, but many will. career encouraging girls and women to pursue
All four of these distinguished educators were STEM careers.
members of SCCTM and contributed to its growth • She was an early embracer of technology in
in many ways. Our four notables are Eloise Rudy, education, owning one of the first Apple
Dany Sandel, and William “Bill” Hynds. computers, as evidenced by all zeros except
for the last two digits in its serial number.
Eloise Rudy
Following are a few bullets about Eloise. They will Eloise Rudy: Obituary
be followed by a very comprehensive obituary Margaret Eloise Lyndon Rudy, widow of Jonas
published in The Greenville News and posted Karl Rudy, died on September 8, 2022. Born to
online on September 17, 2022. Beulah Ingram Lyndon and Elias Carr Lyndon in
• Eloise was Greenville County’s first district Charlotte, NC, on October 6, 1923, she was raised
mathematics consultant. in Atlanta, GA. Karl and Eloise were married for
• She requested the state for permission and 69 years until his death in 2015. Her beloved
received it to teach the first calculus course in daughter, Katharine (Kathy) Rudy Bergmann died
a South Carolina public high school in 1965. in 2019. She is survived by brother David Lowry
• Eloise was elected as the second president of Lyndon of Boston MA, daughter Margaret (Peggy)
SCCTM. Rudy Taylor (Randy Duncan) of Greenville, SC,
• She served on many state-level instructional granddaughter, Catherine Traynham Haynes
materials adoptions and was well known for (Mike) of Simpsonville, SC, grandson, David Rudy
her thorough reviews. Traynham (Melanie) of Olathe, KS, son-in law
• She was highly sought after as a consultant to Kent Bergmann and his son Nic (Amber) of
other South Carolina school districts, Olathe, KS, and great grandchildren, Mason and
especially in developing curricula, writing Leah Haynes, and Anna, Samuel, Owen, Aiden,
award-winning mathematics standards even Amir and Nyx Traynham. Eloise graduated from
before it was a national movement. Agnes Scott in 1945 with BA degrees in
• Her trademark of using the words, “My Dear” Mathematics and Physics and was a physics
to begin a sentence was widely known to instructor there briefly until she accepted a
mean “Listen carefully because what I’m about position as a physicist at the National Bureau of
to say is very important.” Standards in Washington, DC. Later in her career
• Eloise was one of the early winners of she received a MS degree in Science and
SCCTM’s coveted “Outstanding Contributions Mathematics from Clemson University. Karl and
to Mathematics Education” award. Eloise met in 1943 at the University of NC while
she was in summer school, and he was a US
Scctm The MathMate 41 Volume 44/Number 1 October 2024
