I have known Georgia Benkart ever since I came to the department in 1985. Over the years, I saw Georgia deal with problems large and small. And somehow, once Georgia got involved, the problem was solved in less time than expected.
To be sure, Georgia was profoundly competent and well organized. But that description alone does not do her justice.
For Georgia, a project was not just about getting it right; it was also about making it beautiful. I have read many of Georgia’s mathematical papers. Each paper was a polished gem, that would make any lawyer or poet proud. I attended many of Georgia’s lectures at conferences and seminars. Each lecture was a work of art, that engaged the audience from beginning to end. I attended many a faculty meeting during which Georgia got up to speak. Invariably, what she said was so well polished and delivered, that it reminded me of Lincoln’s Gettysburg address.
