Peter Baddoo was a 29-year-old mathematics instructor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) who passed away suddenly on February 15, 2023, while playing basketball on campus. His death shocked and saddened his colleagues, students, friends, and family, who remembered him as a brilliant scholar, a talented teacher, a generous mentor, and a devoted Christian. What was the cause of his death and how did he live his short but remarkable life?
A Passion for Mathematics
Baddoo was born in 1993 in Reading, England, to Jim and Nancy Baddoo. He had two sisters, Kate and Harriet. He attended the University of Oxford, where he studied mathematics and played lacrosse. He graduated with a first-class degree in 2015 and moved to Cambridge University for his PhD. There, he worked on complex function theory and fluid dynamics under the supervision of Professor Peter D. Lax. He completed his PhD in 2019 and published his book, “Analytic Solutions for Flows Through Cascades” (Springer, 2020), which received praise for its “exceptionally clear presentation with beautiful figures”.
Baddoo then joined Imperial College London as an EPSRC Doctoral Prize Fellow, where he expanded his research interests to include machine learning and data-driven methods. He collaborated with researchers from the U.S. and other countries on various projects. In January 2021, he moved to MIT as an instructor in the Department of Mathematics. His faculty mentor, Professor John Bush, described him as an “outstanding, self-propelling researcher” and a “master of complex function theory” who had an “exceptionally promising future in academia”.
A Gift for Teaching
Baddoo was not only a prolific researcher but also an exemplary teacher who gave generously of his time in assisting colleagues, graduate students, and undergraduates. He taught courses on complex variables, differential equations, and numerical analysis at MIT. His students praised him for his clarity, composure, thoughtfulness, and kindness. One of his students said that “I took Peter’s class, and I walked out of that class actually liking math. I was assured that I want to study more of math and pursue a minor”.
Baddoo also received a Math Community Service Award for organizing social events for postdocs and instructors in the department. He was a deeply respected and valued member of the MIT math community.
A Love for Sports
Baddoo had a passion for sports, especially basketball and lacrosse. He played both sports at Oxford and Cambridge universities, earning Blues at both institutions. He also competed in six varsity games between the two universities. He was a club captain and a powerful competitor who inspired his teammates to be better players. He was also a member of the Senior England Men’s training squad for lacrosse.
Baddoo enjoyed playing basketball on campus with his friends and colleagues. It was during one of these games that he collapsed and died on February 15, 2023. The exact cause of his death is not known yet, but it is suspected that he suffered cardiac arrest. It is not clear if he had any underlying medical conditions.
A Faith in Christ
At the center of Baddoo’s life was his unshakable faith in Jesus Christ. He was a devoted and active member of Park Street Church in Boston, where he met his fiancée, Yuna Kim. They were planning to get married in spring 2023. Baddoo’s friends and family said that he had a certain hope of eternal life with Jesus.
A memorial service to celebrate Baddoo’s life was held at Wycliffe Baptist Church in Reading on March 18, 2023. All who knew him were welcome to attend. The Department of Mathematics at MIT also endowed a Peter Baddoo Prize to recognize outstanding contributions to community-building within the department.
Baddoo is survived by his parents, Jim and Nancy; his sisters, Kate and Harriet; and his fiancée, Yuna Kim.
Peter Baddoo cause of death was a tragic loss for the world of mathematics and beyond. He was a young math genius who lived a full and meaningful life. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
