Tribute to André Haefliger - IHES
André Haeflinger & Lawrence Siebenmann IHES

Tribute to André Haefliger

The Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques has learned with great sadness of the passing of André Haefliger, who was 93 years old. He was a great specialist in topology and in particular in the theory of foliations, and worked for many years as a professor at the University of Geneva. He exchanged a lot with René Thom and contributed substantially to the publication of his complete works. A talented violinist, he was passionate about music and several professors at the Institute had the opportunity to practice music with him.

André Haefliger was a member of the IHES Board of Directors from 1979 to 1989 and he then actively contributed to the Institute’s development and search for financial support.

Those at the Institute who had the pleasure of meeting him remember him as a great mathematician and a very warm person.

In this picture, taken at IHES in 1998, on the occasion of the celebrations for the Institute’s 40th anniversary, André Haefliger (left) is talking to Lawrence Siebenmann (right). © Dominique Wallon