Burton Wendroff and the Spirit of Los Alamos

Los Alamos is a unique town with unique people. We know the history, the legacy, the impact–but what’s really special about us is our dedication to each other. The generosity, the connection, that’s what makes us special. It’s a place where innovation and brilliance meet community, relationship, and reliability. At the senior center, our core values seek to amplify the vitality of our members, celebrating our successes and cultivating lifelong resilience. Today, we’re honoring someone who embodies the spirit of Los Alamos: Burt Wendroff.

I first heard the name Burt Wendroff not as the groundbreaking mathematician, but as the quiet, kind, and generous spirit who can be seen around the centers. I heard his birthday was coming up, and it was my assignment to create a short write-up honoring his legacy. I expected to find myself deep in a pit of scholarly articles that I had no business trying to understand, but what I discovered was so much more than that.

But first, let’s get to the math.

Burt’s research explores the development of numerical methods for solving hyperbolic partial differential equations. The Lax-Wendroff method that Burt developed with mentor Peter Lax revolutionized computer simulation for physical processes. In basic terms, Burt’s work revolved around how computers simulate things like air flowing around a plane, shock from explosions, or even weather patterns–inventing mathematical techniques for computers to accurately simulate how waves, fluids, and other fast-moving physical processes evolve through space and time. And as it turns out, this work proved to be pioneering in the field. It was the first second-order numerical method for computing shock waves and related flow problems. Burt’s mathematical imagination reached beyond equations alone. He and Tony Warnock also wrote the chess program Lachex—short for Los Alamos Chess Experiment—which finished runner-up in the 1986 North American Computer Chess Championship.

The world of science knows him for his influential work, but his friends know him as a humble and down-to-earth guy. And he uses his mathematical genius to give back and guide others. Burt is somewhat of a poker expert, frequently winning local tournaments. Patsy, a friend of Burt’s and volunteer at the senior center, says that Burt has been something like a mentor to her. A math major herself, Patsy and Burt talk about their shared interests. She says reading his books is not for the faint of heart, but that Burt has always been approachable and humble when discussing his work with fellow math lovers. Taking her under his wing during a poker session, he taught her the basics with approachability and kindness. “He doesn’t have this ego that you might associate with such accomplishment,” says Patsy, “He was incredibly patient with me–kind and attentive.” 

He’s a shining example of what makes this community strong– the first person that comes to mind if you really need something. He is trustworthy, non-judgmental, and pragmatic about how to help, says friend Patsy. “He’s even-tempered and doesn’t let the world get him worked up–he’s exactly the person I would go to in a tough situation.” Burt’s friend Lisa said they immediately clicked because of their shared reserved nature and sense of humor. But don’t let that quiet nature fool you. In silent moments, Lisa will sometimes ask what he’s thinking about, and he responds, “Oh, I’m just working on a math problem.” A Reliable neighbor, complex, a deep thinker, organized, and direct. Humble, patient–these are all qualities his friends say Burt embodies.

I decided to find out for myself. I asked if someone could point Burt out to me at our congregate lunch at Betty Ehart after I heard he was a regular attendee. He had the grace to humor me for a brief interview, and as it turns out, his friends were spot on. Gracious, with a down-to-earth manner, he laughed easily at my jokes and insisted that his work really wasn’t as famous as I’d been led to believe. “Anyone can have a Wikipedia page!” He countered. But not everyone can call themselves a LANL Fellow, a title Burt holds that recognizes outstanding achievement and worldwide impact in science. Don Dudziak, vice president of the board of directors at LARSO, and a LANL Fellow himself says, “You don’t get to be a Fellow without an international reputation.” It’s a recognition most can’t claim, with only 1% of scientists being appointed. Later, I called a physicist friend at the lab who said, “Oh sure, I’ve heard of the Lax-Wendroff method.” And I’m no scientist, but if Google Scholar has anything to say about it, 20,000 citations seems to be enough for me to disagree with Burt’s assessment of his own contribution to science. 

So here’s to Burt: we honor and recognize not only your accomplishments and incredible impact on the world of science–but especially your gentle and generous spirit. You truly embody the spirit of Los Alamos–combining intellect and innovation with generosity, humility and relationship. Positive living goes beyond the daily experiences that older adults may have; it is also a philosophy of life that creates deep connections to others. We can all call ourselves lucky to have a neighbor like Burt. 

Leah Blackwell, Programming & Marketing Coordinator at LARSO