In a sunny day of May we celebrated the funeral of John Fauvel. The ceremony took place in Leamington Spa (near Warwick University, UK). There were readings, speeches remembering John’s aspects of life (private, academic, scientific), songs, music, flowers of the John’s garden. Afterwards we went to the Saint Patrick Irish Club on the border of the river to continue our day remembering John. One of the walls of the room was covered with John’s photos taken in various meetings and visits to colleagues.
Although we tried to be cheerful, as John had liked to see us, I perceived in the atmosphere a great sadness. With John disappears an important person who was able to make our community as a big family (this is what I feel), of which I’m glad to be a member. He also contributed to create an identity for the group of persons working in the field of history and pedagogy of mathematics.
In the same time in New Zealand a group of friends celebrated John. This gives an idea of how much he was known and loved all over the world. Also a lot of messages arrived to the special email address prepared in Warwick University. Myself, as present president of the group HPM, received a lot of messages. Some of them are in this special issue dedicated to John. Thanks to all of you.
I have written these lines without any revision by an expert of my poor English. Thus, if John can read them, he will recognize that these lines are really mine and come directly from my heart.
Fulvia Furinghetti
Universita` di Genova
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