wrote:

> I am sad to have to announce the death yesterday of John Maynard Smith at
> his home in Lewes, England.  John Maynard Smith (his surname was Maynard
> Smith) was regarded by many as the leading evolutionary biologist in the
> world. He and W. D. Hamilton were the leaders in applying evolutionary
> thinking to animal behavior and reproductive strategy.  He was 84 years
> old, and had been ill with mesothelioma for some time, but was working
> actively on molecular evolution of tuberculosis bacteria up to the end.
> He had recently published a book (with David Harper) on "Animal
Signals",
> updating his classic work applying game theory to behavioral interactions.
>
> Others will have much to say on his impact on evolutionary biology.  I
> just want to note his personal good cheer and kindliness, his
> accessibility, his unpretentiousness and his readiness to admit what he
> did not know.  He cared deeply about explaining evolutionary theory in
> clear and simple terms not only to researchers, but to students and to the
> public.  He exercised a leadership which will be missed.
> 
> [moderator's note: May I just add that JMS asked two quite pungent
> questions of me after a talk at the Ecological Society meetings a
> decade or so back, and was kind enough to talk with me for a half hour
> afterward -- me, an anonymous graduate student. I can only echo Joe's
> remarks. - JAH]
> 
I spent a lovely three hours chatting to him a couple of years back - he
was a funny, gracious and witty conversationalist. I am very sad to hear
this.

-- 
John Wilkins
john_SPAM{at}wilkins.id.au   http://www.wilkins.id.au
"Men mark it when they hit, but do not mark it when they miss" 
                                               - Francis Bacon
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