Gustave Solomon

Gustave Solomon (October 27, 1930 – January 31, 1996) was an American mathematician and electrical engineer who was one of the founders of the algebraic theory of error detection and correction.

Gustave Solomon
Born	(1930-10-27)October 27, 1930 Brooklyn, New York
Died	January 31, 1996(1996-01-31) (aged 65) Beverly Hills, California
Citizenship	American
Education	Yeshiva University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Known for	Reed–Solomon code
Awards	IEEE Masaru Ibuka Award along with Irving Reed in 1995.
Scientific career
Doctoral advisor	Kenkichi Iwasawa

Career

Solomon completed his Ph.D. in mathematics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1956 under direction of Kenkichi Iwasawa.

Solomon was best known for developing, along with Irving S. Reed, the algebraic error correction and detection codes named the Reed–Solomon codes. These codes protect the integrity of digital information, and they have had widespread use in modern digital storage and communications, ranging from deep space communications down to the digital audio compact disc.

Solomon was also one of the co-creators of the Mattson–Solomon polynomial^[1] and the Solomon–McEliece weight formulas. He received IEEE Masaru Ibuka Award along with Irving Reed in 1995.

In his later years, Solomon consulted at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory near Pasadena, California.

Personal life

Gustave Solomon was born to a Jewish family in Brooklyn, the son of Philip and Mollie Solomon. He graduated from Talmudical Academy High School of Manhattan and went on to receive a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Yeshiva University in 1951 and a doctorate, also in mathematics, from M.I.T. in 1956.^[2]

Solomon was very interested in opera and in theater, and he even wanted to get minor acting parts himself, perhaps in television commercials. Between his assignments in the Communications Research Section at JPL, he taught foreign-born engineers and scientists English by exposing them to music from American musical productions. He believed in enhancing health and the feelings of well-being through breathing exercises, and he was a practitioner of the Feldenkrais method. Solomon used the mind-body connection philosophy of the Feldenkrais method to teach voice lessons. He had a strong love for music, and was a composer as well.

Solomon was survived by one daughter.