Gilford Ward, Emeritus Professor of Mathematics, died on 13 November after a short illness, aged 90.
Gilford was the University's first Professor of Applied Mathematics, appointed in 1965.
After graduating from Cambridge in 1939, he spent the next seven years in government research establishments, working first on anti-submarine devices and then on anti-missile systems.
Although Gilford was a qualified pilot he never drove a car, believing it to be more dangerous than flying. Before coming to Sussex he was Senior Lecturer at Manchester and Professor at Cranfield College of Aeronautics.
His research interests were in the theoretical foundations of classical mechanics, and in fluid mechanics and aerodynamics. His book on Linearized Theory of Steady High Speed Flow was a classic of its day and for a time he was chairman of the Aeronautical Research Council.
Gilford served as Chairman of the Mathematics Division and as Dean of the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MAPS).
His friends and colleagues will remember him as always courteous and attentive, with a fund of stories from his war-time experiences, told with wit and good humour, often over lunch in the old Senior Common Room.
His lectures were models of clarity and delivered in his, perhaps, old fashioned style - he always addressed his students by surname as Mr or Miss until his retirement in 1982.
There will be a funeral service at 2pm on Wednesday 3 December at St Anne's Church, Lewes.
Peter Bushell, Emeritus Professor, Mathematics department