Webb Institute mourns the loss of Dr. James (Jim) Simons, a renowned mathematician, investor, and philanthropist known for his groundbreaking work in geometry and topology. He founded Renaissance Technologies, one of the world’s most successful hedge funds. Dr. Simons, along with his wife Marilyn, generously supported a wide range of causes, including Webb Institute.

In 2011 and 2014, the Simons made gifts to Webb in support of scholarships. These contributions have helped our students to pursue their education and careers in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.  Despite Dr. Simons achievements in finance, he told us what brought him to Webb – his interest in boats. As he stated “I have had a lot of boats, and I have loved every one of them.”

Dr. Simons captivates the audience with his Zeien Lecture on “Mathematics, Common Sense, and Good Luck.”

John Russell ’67, Dr. Simons, and former Webb President Robert C. Olsen share a moment in the auditorium following Dr. Simons’ presentation at Webb.

In April 2011, Dr. Simons presented at Webb as a Zeien Lecture speaker. His lecture, titled “Mathematics, Common Sense and Good Luck,” was a testament to his passion for mathematics and his ability to make complex ideas accessible to a wide audience. His visit to Webb was a memorable event for us. The appreciation he had for boats guided his work, as he stated in the lecture.

“First, don’t run with the pack. Try something different. Secondly, find great partners, people who are really good at what they do. Third, be guided by beauty. Mathematics involves beautiful and elegant systems, and a business organization can be a beautiful system if you have bright people who are motivated and work well together.”

“Jim Simons was not only a brilliant mathematician and a successful entrepreneur, but he was also an incredibly generous philanthropist. His contributions to education have had an impact on countless institutions, including ours. His legacy will continue to inspire and support future generations,” stated Webb Institute’s President, Mark Martecchini.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to Marilyn and the entire Simons family. Jim’s contributions to mathematics, finance, and philanthropy will continue to inspire and support future generations. And his advice to be guided by beauty in our work still lives on at Webb—to evoke a sense of love and romance in everything we do.