It is with sadness that we report the passing of Dr. Ravi P. Agarwal, the brilliant and prolific mathematician, scholar and educator who brought his expertise and kindness to Florida Tech for more than a decade across two different tenures, including what would be his final position as research professor emeritus in the Department of Mathematics and Systems Engineering. He passed away Dec. 3 at age 77.
It is hard to overstate the impact Dr. Agarwal had on the field of applied mathematics. Specializing in numerical analysis, differential and difference equations, inequalities and fixed-point theorems, the India-born mathematician produced a staggering output of more than 1,800 research papers and 53 monographs and books. His final book, “Mathematics Before and After Pythagoras,” was published in November 2024.
His work has been cited over 55,000 times, according to Google Scholar, underscoring the foundational role of his research in modern mathematics. And in April 2024, Research.com released its annual ranking of top scientists in the field of mathematics. Dr. Agarwal was 36th in the world and 26th in the United States among the more than 3,500 scientists who were identified and assessed.
At Florida Tech, where he was hired in 2002 and remained until 2011, Dr. Agarwal worked closely with Dr. Hamid Rassoul, now the university’s chief research officer but then a physics professor and later dean of the College of Science. The two became close friends and in an email exchange last December, Dr. Agarwal was excited to tell his friend about his latest book.
In his response, Dr. Rassoul wrote, “Your dedication to capturing the history of recent mathematics is inspiring, and it’s amazing to see your work continue to shape how we understand the field. You’re not just writing history; you’re becoming a part of it.”
Dr. Rassoul was instrumental in bringing Dr. Agarwal back to Melbourne last year as emeritus research professor, a position he started in August.
Beyond his brilliance, Dr. Agarwal was generous and kind throughout his five decades of teaching and mentoring students at every level, as well as to his faculty.
“Ravi’s brilliance, kindness, and generosity made our years of collaboration both inspiring and unforgettable,” said Dr. Kanishka Perera, a mathematics professor at Florida Tech. “His influence on my work and life will remain with me always.”
Ghana Bhaskar Tenali, professor and department head, mathematics and systems engineering, counted Dr. Agarwal as a valued colleague and friend. “His cheerful nature, helpfulness and genuine kindness touched everyone around him. A perfect gentleman in every sense, his presence will be deeply missed.”
