'Fantastic' math teacher also a chess champion
Nathan Divinsky, a mathematics professor, chess champion and civic politician who was married for 11 years to former prime minister Kim Campbell, died on the weekend.
He was 86. Divinsky spent more than 40 years at the University of B.C., beginning his career as a professor in the math department in 1949 and retiring as a professor emeritus of math in 1991.
"He had such a reputation with his students as being one of the most fantastic teachers that they have ever had, and he stimulated these young people and left his mark in that field," said Marilyn Goldstone, who became Divinsky's common-law wife after his divorce from Campbell in 1983.
"We used to be sitting on a tube in London, and some man with a rolled umbrella and a bowler hat would lean over and say, 'Excuse me, are you Professor Divinsky? - You taught me mathematics,' said Goldstone.
Divinsky's prowess at the chess board led to his representing Canada at the Chess Olympiads in 1954 and 1966. During the latter - held in Cuba - he and the other tournament players received custom-made chess sets from Fidel Castro.
Divinsky and Campbell, who were married in 1972, were both active in Vancouver civic politics.
He was a school board trustee from 1974-1980 and a city alderman from 1980-1982, while Campbell was on the school board from 1980 to 1984. (She moved into federal politics in 1988, becoming a Conservative MP in Vancouver Centre and prime minister in 1993.)
Mathematics were always a significant part of Divinsky's life, even when it came to choosing his life partners.
After his divorce from Campbell, his second wife, he told his daughter from his first marriage that he was looking for someone new with the exact right birthdate.
Noting that his first wife's birthdate was March 12 and that Campbell's was March 10, he said: "I'm just looking for a nice woman whose birthday is March 11 to make up the sequence."
Goldstone, who was born on March 11, said the connection was made through her daughter and Divinsky's daughter. The two friends realized the coincidence while chatting about their parents; it wasn't long before Goldstone heard from Divinsky.
"This was Nathan," said Goldstone, laughing. "He phoned me [and] said 'Is your birthday really March the 11th? Why don't we meet and have dinner together?'"
That dinner - a corned beef sandwich - was 27 years ago. Goldstone said she and Divinsky lived together happily until his death Sunday.
He is survived by Goldstone; his daughters, Pamela Divinsky and Judy Kornfeld; his son-in-law, Neil Kornfeld; and his grandchildren Dory and Megan.
Nathan Divinsky, a mathematics professor, chess champion and civic politician who was married for 11 years to former prime minister Kim Campbell, died on the weekend.
He was 86. Divinsky spent more than 40 years at the University of B.C., beginning his career as a professor in the math department in 1949 and retiring as a professor emeritus of math in 1991.
"He had such a reputation with his students as being one of the most fantastic teachers that they have ever had, and he stimulated these young people and left his mark in that field," said Marilyn Goldstone, who became Divinsky's common-law wife after his divorce from Campbell in 1983.
"We used to be sitting on a tube in London, and some man with a rolled umbrella and a bowler hat would lean over and say, 'Excuse me, are you Professor Divinsky? - You taught me mathematics,' said Goldstone.
Divinsky's prowess at the chess board led to his representing Canada at the Chess Olympiads in 1954 and 1966. During the latter - held in Cuba - he and the other tournament players received custom-made chess sets from Fidel Castro.
Divinsky and Campbell, who were married in 1972, were both active in Vancouver civic politics.
He was a school board trustee from 1974-1980 and a city alderman from 1980-1982, while Campbell was on the school board from 1980 to 1984. (She moved into federal politics in 1988, becoming a Conservative MP in Vancouver Centre and prime minister in 1993.)
Mathematics were always a significant part of Divinsky's life, even when it came to choosing his life partners.
After his divorce from Campbell, his second wife, he told his daughter from his first marriage that he was looking for someone new with the exact right birthdate.
Noting that his first wife's birthdate was March 12 and that Campbell's was March 10, he said: "I'm just looking for a nice woman whose birthday is March 11 to make up the sequence."
Goldstone, who was born on March 11, said the connection was made through her daughter and Divinsky's daughter. The two friends realized the coincidence while chatting about their parents; it wasn't long before Goldstone heard from Divinsky.
"This was Nathan," said Goldstone, laughing. "He phoned me [and] said 'Is your birthday really March the 11th? Why don't we meet and have dinner together?'"
That dinner - a corned beef sandwich - was 27 years ago. Goldstone said she and Divinsky lived together happily until his death Sunday.
He is survived by Goldstone; his daughters, Pamela Divinsky and Judy Kornfeld; his son-in-law, Neil Kornfeld; and his grandchildren Dory and Megan.