Memories on shadows and shadows of memories

Abstract

I am one of the very few mathematicians who knew Paul’s aunt Irma before I knew him. She and my grandmother were neighbors during World War II. Aunt Irma was one of the few Jews in Budapest who survived the holocaust. This is how I met her since I was raised from this time by my grandmother and my aunt. Aunt Irma must have had good memories about my grandmother since they kept a good relationship, she regularly visited my grandmother even after her move to another place. She learned about my interest in mathematics and suggested I meet her nephew Pali who happened to be a mathematician. “Of course” I had never heard of him, but I was very glad to meet an old “real mathematician”. He was a very respectful old man (46!). I immediately understood that I was seeing an extraordinary personality.