[Maths-Education] Jim Kaput

[Stephen Hegedus]

Dear Colleagues,

It is with a sense of profound sadness and enormous loss that we inform you
of the shocking death of our friend and colleague Jim Kaput. Jim was taking
his daily run on Chase Road, North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, near his home,
yesterday noon (July 30) when he was hit by a pickup truck.

The arrangements for Jim¹s funeral are being handled by Dartmouth Funeral
Home, 230 Russells Mills Rd, Dartmouth, MA 02747, USA.  The telephone number
for the funeral home is +1 508-999-5100. Please call them for up-to-date
information, and where to send flowers or cards of condolence.

For now, the wake is planned for 4-7pm on Wednesday 3rd August in the
Dartmouth Funeral Home. Tentatively, the funeral is scheduled for Thursday
August 4th in Jim¹s home town of Shutesbury, MA. Please contact the funeral
home for up-to-date details.

We have reproduced an article from a local newspaper about the accident
below.

Sincerely,

Stephen Hegedus, Maria Blanton, Gary Davis

==

Jogger, UMass professor struck and killed by pickup
July 31, 2005

DARTMOUTH, Mass. --A University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth professor
died after he was struck by a pickup truck during a morning jog near his
home.

James Kaput, 63, was hit from behind by a 1991 Chevrolet pickup on
Saturday. Witnesses told police that the truck drifted to the right side
of the road and struck Kaput, throwing him about 50 feet.

The math professor died at St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford from severe
head injuries.

"He was very patient and incredibly intelligent," Stephen Hegedus, a
longtime colleague at UMass Dartmouth, told the New Bedford Standard
Times.

Kaput was to officially retire in August. He finished up his teaching
career at the end of the school year in May, Hegedus said.

No charges have been filed against the driver -- 38-year-old Kenneth
Demoranville of New Bedford. Police said alcohol and speed do not appear
to have been factors in the crash.

At UMass Dartmouth, Kaput had focused on researching and developing
innovative methods of teaching complicated math concepts to school-age
children.

"Even though he was internationally known, he worked very hard with the
local school districts," Hegedus said.
==
Stephen J. Hegedus,
Associate Professor,
Department of Mathematics,
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
285 Old Westport Road,
N. Dartmouth, MA 02747-2300. USA.
(508) 910-6433
http://merg.umassd.edu