Professor loses battle with cancer
Balas remembered for working closely with
Nick Gourdoux
Issue date: 3/27/08 Section: News
On Wednesday, UW-Eau Claire math professor Andrew J. Balas passed away at Eau Claire's Sacred Heart Hospital after a year-long battle with lymphoma.
Balas received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and his Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of California-Berkley in 1980. He joined the Eau Claire faculty in 1984 and served as chair of the math department from 2003 to 2007.
"He was a sweet, gentle man," said Michelle Balas, Andrew Balas' wife. "He was very popular amongst his students, and he loved them back. He respected everybody's ability to think. He loved to teach."
Andrew Balas' interest in math was not limited to teaching the subject. He led the math department through a series of changes that restructured its undergraduate requirements for non-majors that greatly enhanced their learning experience, math department chair Alex Smith said. Balas also published research articles in the area of complex manifolds.
"He did a lot with revising the lower level math courses so that students could better find their general education math classes," Smith said. "He was very interested in group learning."
Junior math major Neil Manthe said Balas was always there to assist students with their questions.
"He was very dedicated to helping students," Manthe said. "He was very knowledgeable and helpful."
Michelle Balas agreed, saying that her husband wasn't just available during class hours.
"He didn't hesitate to put in extra time, he was really interested in how students learn," Michelle Balas said. "Even in his last year, he took extra time to help."
A memorial service will be held at 5 p.m. Friday, March 28, at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 421 S. Farwell St., Eau Claire.
"He was a good friend. His advice, he was always one to give advice, good advice," Smith said, adding that is something he will always miss about Andrew Balas.
However, the math department is still in the process of deciding how they will remember Balas.
"We're making lots of plans," Smith said. We might have a lecture in his name every year. We're thinking about having a department presentation during the math retreat. We're going to have a guest speaker."
Overall, Michelle Balas said her husband had a positive outlook on life.
"He was a generous spirit, a lover of life. He was a gentle man," Balas said. "I'm going to miss the quiet walks."
Memorials may be sent to the Mathematics Advancement Fund, c/o UW-Eau Claire Foundation, P.O. Box 4004, Eau Claire, WI 54702, or the Center for the Study of Natural Oncology, 445 Marine View Ave., Suite 260-S, Del Mar, CA 92014. Condolences may be made in care of Plombon's All Faiths Funeral and Cremation Service, 1405 N. Clairemont Ave., Eau Claire, Wis. 54703, or online at 866allfaiths.com.
Balas received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and his Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of California-Berkley in 1980. He joined the Eau Claire faculty in 1984 and served as chair of the math department from 2003 to 2007.
"He was a sweet, gentle man," said Michelle Balas, Andrew Balas' wife. "He was very popular amongst his students, and he loved them back. He respected everybody's ability to think. He loved to teach."
Andrew Balas' interest in math was not limited to teaching the subject. He led the math department through a series of changes that restructured its undergraduate requirements for non-majors that greatly enhanced their learning experience, math department chair Alex Smith said. Balas also published research articles in the area of complex manifolds.
"He did a lot with revising the lower level math courses so that students could better find their general education math classes," Smith said. "He was very interested in group learning."
Junior math major Neil Manthe said Balas was always there to assist students with their questions.
"He was very dedicated to helping students," Manthe said. "He was very knowledgeable and helpful."
Michelle Balas agreed, saying that her husband wasn't just available during class hours.
"He didn't hesitate to put in extra time, he was really interested in how students learn," Michelle Balas said. "Even in his last year, he took extra time to help."
A memorial service will be held at 5 p.m. Friday, March 28, at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 421 S. Farwell St., Eau Claire.
"He was a good friend. His advice, he was always one to give advice, good advice," Smith said, adding that is something he will always miss about Andrew Balas.
However, the math department is still in the process of deciding how they will remember Balas.
"We're making lots of plans," Smith said. We might have a lecture in his name every year. We're thinking about having a department presentation during the math retreat. We're going to have a guest speaker."
Overall, Michelle Balas said her husband had a positive outlook on life.
"He was a generous spirit, a lover of life. He was a gentle man," Balas said. "I'm going to miss the quiet walks."
Memorials may be sent to the Mathematics Advancement Fund, c/o UW-Eau Claire Foundation, P.O. Box 4004, Eau Claire, WI 54702, or the Center for the Study of Natural Oncology, 445 Marine View Ave., Suite 260-S, Del Mar, CA 92014. Condolences may be made in care of Plombon's All Faiths Funeral and Cremation Service, 1405 N. Clairemont Ave., Eau Claire, Wis. 54703, or online at 866allfaiths.com.
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