09/05/2018

Manfredo do Carmo was the teacher of all geometers.

Reproduction of Marcelo Viana's column in Folha de S. Paulo.

A colleague wrote to express his sorrow at the death on April 30th of "the professor of geometry students worldwide." I include myself: I was in my third year of undergraduate studies at the University of Porto when I first heard of Manfredo do Carmo through his "Differential Geometry of Curves and Surfaces." It's one of those books that simply cannot be improved upon.

He wrote others. During my doctoral studies, I came across "Riemannian Geometry," about the mathematics of general relativity, another definitive work, also translated into several languages.

Later I learned about Manfredo himself, both directly and through mutual friends, especially his student and collaborator Hilário Alencar, who was almost like a son to me. That's how I came to know a little about the man behind the mathematician.

American Blaine Lawson, a leading expert in the field, wrote that “his intellectual leadership and tireless devotion created in Brazil one of the best schools of differential geometry in the world. […] We were all captivated by his charm, his wisdom, and his kindness.” Fernando Codá, another disciple from Alagoas, confirms: “Conversations with him were always good-humored and full of refined wisdom.”

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