Brian Donald Wick

Oct 3, 1944 -

May 25, 2024

Brian Wick passed away peacefully at his Anchorage, Alaska, home on May 25, 2024, surrounded by family.

Brian was born in 1944, in Kalamazoo, Mich., to Arne and Lola Wick. He grew up in La Jolla, Calif., where he graduated from La Jolla High School in 1962. He then attended San Diego State University where he graduated with honors in mathematics in 1966, followed by a master's degree in mathematics in 1968. Brian continued his path in mathematics at the University of Washington where he obtained his Ph.D. in 1972.

While attending SDSU, he met his wife, M. Hilary Wick, and they were married in Calgary, Canada, in 1970. After finishing his Ph.D. work, Brian and Hilary moved to Anchorage after he was hired as the first full-time mathematics professor at the University of Alaska Anchorage. In 1973, they welcomed their only child, Catherine.

Brian had a 38-year career at UAA with notable accomplishments. He served as the Chairman of the Mathematics Department for 10 years. In 1997, he was given the Distinguished University Teaching of Mathematics Award by the Mathematical Association of America.

In 2002, he received the UAA Chancellor's Award for Excellence for Outstanding Research, and he received The Chauvenet Prize from the Mathematical Association of America for an article he co-authored. The Chauvenet Prize is considered the math world's most prestigious prizes for expository writing. He retired in 2010, becoming professor emeritus. He and his wife funded the Brian Wick and Hilary Davies Mathematics Scholarship at UAA, which continues to support aspiring math students.

Brian was involved in the community including serving as president of the Alaska Council of Teachers of Mathematics, serving on the Anchorage School District Curriculum Committee and as state chairman of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching. He was also a member of the Anchorage International Rotary Club and volunteered with his daughter's swim club.

In his free time, Brian was a ham radio enthusiast, an avid biker and an amateur photographer. His childhood love of the Sierra Mountains endured throughout his life, and every summer until he was 70 he would return there, usually with family, for a month-long backpacking trip. In his later years, one of his greatest joys was his granddaughter. Always a teacher at heart, he made a point to include some lessons in math or physics each time she came to visit.

Brian was a quiet, gentle man of great intelligence who spent his life working for the benefit of his family, his university and his community. He has left a lasting legacy in each of these areas and will be deeply missed.

Brian is survived by his wife, Hilary; daughter, Catherine (Chris Kottra); granddaughter, Anna; and brother, Darrell (Mary). The family expresses deep gratitude to Dr. Smiley, Dr. Luke Liu and the many medical providers who cared for Brian during his later years.