I am sorry to report the very sad news that Barry Cooper died at his home in Leeds on Monday night. He learned less than three weeks ago that he had untreatable cancer, and the decline was much faster than expected. He was with his family at the end.
Born on 9.10.1943, Barry had been a leading figure in UK logic since the 1960s. He came to the University of Leeds as a Lecturer in October 1969, and apart from visits elsewhere (he was a lecturer at UC Berkeley 1971-1973 and came back to Leeds in 1974), held his career throughout in Leeds, becoming a Professor in 1996. He was a major figure in computability theory, especially degree theory, also exploring in the last 10-15 years wider and more philosophical ramifications. He had many PhD students, some now in leading academic positions, and was also popular with undergraduates as an outstanding and charismatic lecturer. Barry had been exceptionally energetic in recent years, and died with several papers and books still in progress. He played a leading role in developing Computability in Europe, of which he was President, and also, by chairing the Turing Centenary Advisory Committee, helped to drive the international and hugely successful Turing Centenary in 2012. I and his other colleagues in Leeds will value and remember him for many things, especially his originality and broad vision, and his kindness to more junior people – staff or students, in Leeds or elsewhere. As a researcher, teacher, and academic citizen, he will be a big loss for the logic community, in the UK and worldwide.
De Morgan Gazette 