Fredric and Marilyn Tufte

Fredric W. Tufte was born in 1942 in Seattle, Washington. His parents were school teachers who raised him in the farming communities of North Dakota. Evan at an early age, Rick had a knack for mathematics and was interested in pursuing academia. He began attending college as a chemical engineering student, but gravitated toward Mathematics and graduated in 1964 from University of North Dakota with a Bachelor of Arts. Continuing onward, Rick also obtained his Master of Arts in Mathematics from 1966 University of Missouri at Columbia while serving as a teaching assistant. After several years at Wisconsin State University Platteville, now known as the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, he decided to pursue his Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin Madison and graduated in 1988.

It was the warmth of the community that convinced Rick to accept an assistant professorship offered by the Wisconsin State University – Platteville in 1966. The University seemed to have plenty of potential as its engineering program was growing and he knew there would always be a place a mathematician.

Dr. Tuft has met many people during his tenure at the University, but none more memorable than his wife, Marilyn, whom he met when she began teaching Biology in 1968. One of their first dates was watching the Dairy Days Parade in Platteville.

Looking back over his career, Rick is very happy with all the decisions that he has made. Teaching Math and being a student advisor has been a true joy for him. He has always believed that being receptive to new ideas is the key to success as a professional. Rick passed away in 2023.