Biography

Gerald Cargo, known to us all as Jerry, earned a BBA in 1952 and an MS in mathematical statistics in 1953, both at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, worked for the National Security Agency June 1953 - August 1953, and served in the U. S. Army as a statistician at the Aberdeen Proving Ground August 1953 - June 1955. He then returned to Michigan to earn a Ph.D. in mathematics in 1959, writing a dissertation in complex variables, specifically Blaschke Products, under the direction of George Piranian. Jerry joined SU as assistant professor in 1959, and became associate professor in 1963 and professor in 1977. He was a National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council Research Associate at the National Bureau of Standards in 1961-1962, he had NSF research grants in 1961 and 1963-1965, and he served as a consultant to the Aerospace Research Laboratories at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio from 1967 to about 1972.

He has written 31 research papers on a variety of topics, generally in real and complex analysis, and directed one Ph.D. dissertation, that of Edmund Memmott in 1972. He worked on variable credit calculus for some years, wrote in conjunction with others the study guides, and gave at least 5 lectures to small colleges in Guy Johnson's recruiting program. He was a member of the Executive Committee 1981-1983 and 1985-1986, Graduate Committee 1977-1980, the last year as chair, and Undergraduate Committee several times, later as chair. Jerry was faculty advisor to the mathematics library 1975-1982, was a member of chairperson search committees in fall 1978 (chair), spring 1981 and fall 1984, and was chair of the IOR Liaison Committee 1976-1978. He was a member of 9 ad hoc promotion, tenure or renewal committees (chair of one), and was a member of Math-Ed search committee 1982-1983. In the College he was a member of the committee to review Dean Goodrich's services in spring 1978 and the subcommittee for basic skills in mathematics in summer 1977; he was a member of the Board of Graduate Studies and of its Academic Planning Committee 1974-1976. He is a member of AAUP, AMS, MAA, Beta Gamma Sigma, Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Xi, is listed in American Men and Women of Science editions 11th through 20th (1998-1999) and Who's Who in America editions 49th (1995) and 50th (1996).

Barbara and Jerry were married in August 1956, have a son James and a married daughter Ellen. Jim graduated from SU with a major in chemistry. While working for Bell Laboratories, he earned a master's degree in chemistry and an MBA (graduating first in his class) from Lehigh University. He is now a Technical Manager in Product Analysis at Agere Systems. Barb and Jerry have been active in University United Methodist Church, serving on various committees. Barbara is a Stephen Caring Minster, in which capacity she visits people in retirement homes. They are members of the Syracuse International Folk Dancers. Since Jerry retired in 1998, they have traveled to Germany, Italy, Ireland, France, Turkey, and Spain.

Sources: His 1986 cv & emails; Amer. Men and Women of Science. Phil Church 7/20/02