John Conway, Renowned Princeton Mathematician and Inventor of ‘Game Of Life,’ Has Died of Coronavirus

John Conway, renowned Princeton Mathematician and inventor of ‘Game Of Life,’ has died of coronavirus. He was 82. John Conway’s  fever started Wednesday morning. He was reported dead three days later, according to a statement by Princeton scientist Sam Wang.

“I am sorry to confirm the passing of my colleague John Conway. An incomparable mathematician, a pleasant neighbor, and an excellent coffee acquaintance,” Wang tweeted. “Part of coronavirus’s hard toll in New Jersey.”

I am sorry to confirm the passing of my colleague John Conway. An incomparable mathematician, a pleasant neighbor, and an excellent coffee acquaintance.

His passing was sudden (fever started only Wednesday morning). Part of coronavirus's hard toll in New Jersey.

— Sam Wang is at samwang.bsky.social (@SamWangPhD) April 12, 2020

John Horton Conway was born on 26 December 1937. He was an English mathematician active in the theory of finite groups, knot theory, number theory, combinatorial game theory and coding theory. He also made contributions to many branches of recreational mathematics, most notably the invention of the cellular automaton called the Game of Life.