Craig Tracy

A photo of a smiling middle-aged couple in warm coats by a lake and pine trees.

Letter from the Chair, Spring 2026

  • by Bruno Nachtergaele, Department Chair

In just a few days I will hand the reins of the Department of Mathematics to the experienced hands of my colleague Joel Hass. Joel has served as department chair for 4 years (2010-2014). Through a number of leadership functions on campus he also acquired deep knowledge of all aspects of the university organization. I am very grateful he agreed to step back into the department chair role for 2026-27. 

Students walking along a wet path lined with trees at night, the glow of Shields Library in the background.

Letter from the Editor, Winter 2026

  • by Jennifer Schultens, Faculty Newsletter Editor

Gentle reader, you are reading the second issue of our new quarterly newsletter!  As you may have noticed, the format of our newsletter has changed.  We have retired our annual printed newsletter and hope you are enjoying our new digital quarterly newsletter.  We encourage you to comment and make suggestions, especially since we are still working on the format of the digital newsletter and eager to improve.

Craig Tracy, an older man with glasses sitting outdoors at a café, wearing a dark grey collared shirt, smiling softly.

In Memoriam: Craig Tracy

  • by Bruno Nachtergaele, Marianne Waage

We mourn the passing of our colleague Craig Tracy. 

 

Craig Tracy was an American mathematician known for his contributions to mathematical physics and probability theory. Born in 1945 in England to a British mother and an American father, Craig was raised on a farm in Missouri. After obtaining a B.Sc. in Physics from University of Missouri (1967), he studied at Stony Brook University, where he obtained a Ph.D. in Physics with the thesis Spin-Spin Scale-Functions in the Ising and XY-Models (1973), advised by Barry M. McCoy. 

Craig Tracy stands outside on a cloudy day, on the top of a grassy hill. His hand is outstretched to a large rough boulder. An island floats in the ocean in the distance.

For Craig Tracy's Retirement

  • by Barry McCoy, Distinguished Professor, Stony Brook University

Craig was my first graduate student. He has had an extremely productive and distinguished career. Over the decades since I first met Craig we have shared many adventures together. It is hard to believe that he is retiring.

Subscribe to Craig Tracy Content