Education
Rare among mathematicians, he chose to focus broadly on "phenomena", rather than any one of the many specific theorems that might help to articulate a given phenomenon.
Rare among mathematicians, he chose to focus broadly on "phenomena", rather than any one of the many specific theorems that might help to articulate a given phenomenon.
His book Principles of Random Walk, first published in 1964, remains a well-cited classic. Spitzer was born into a Jewish family in Vienna, Austria, and by the time he was twelve years old, the Nazi threat in Austria was evident. He lived with two Swedish families, learned Swedish, graduated from high school, and for one year attended Tekniska Hogskolan in Stockholm.
Spitzer enlisted in the United States. Army just as the war in Europe was ending.
After completing his military service in 1947, Spitzer entered the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) to study mathematics. His studies went quickly, and he completed his Bachelor of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy in just six years.
Spitzer"s first academic appointments were at the California Institute of Technology (1953–1958), but most of his academic career was spent at Cornell University, with leaves at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton and the Mittag-Leffler Institute in Sweden.
National Academy of Sciences]
Among many his many honors, Spitzer was a member of the National Academy of Sciences.