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Author, Farmer, and Mathematician

Reuben Sandler ’57

September 8, 2024, in San Francisco, California.

Reuben Sandler was born and raised in the Los Angeles area. He completed his undergraduate study at Reed College, where he wrote his thesis on game theory, and received a PhD in mathematics from the University of Chicago at the age of 24.

Following school, Reuben authored four books on the subject of mathematics and held professorships at Victoria University of Wellington, the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois Chicago, the University of Hawaii, and Technion University of Haifa.

At the height of his successful mathematics career, Reuben opted to leave academia to live communally on Waiheke Island in New Zealand, where he farmed, participated in the island’s early wine production, and cofounded the island’s credit union.

In 2006, Reuben became a member of the University of Chicago Physical Sciences Division Visiting Committee, becoming chair in 2012. He was also a founding member of Intelligent Optical Systems, Inc., where he served as CEO and chairman of the board until shortly before his death.

Reuben is survived by his children, Ora, David, and Julia, and his long-term companion, Emily.

Appeared in Reed magazine: Fall 2025

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