John Parks was an American mathematician who had worked for Monsanto most of his life. He retired to Australia because when he had first married he wanted to move there. His kids grew up with postcards and brochures of Australia and migrated after graduation. When John Parks retired he came to join them. He was given a room at Sydney University to work out of and a grant paid for my services as his typist and assistant. He was a truly lovely man, not very tall, always cheerful, always charming, and exceptionally bright. It was a great day when the book was accepted by Springer-Verlag. I will never forget the year I spent working for him.
