Yes, he is is in some ways a very tragic figure. As a kid I was always inspired by his absolute dedication to truth, no matter what he saw it as. He really has

Yes, he is is in some ways a very tragic figure. As a kid I was always inspired by his absolute dedication to truth, no matter what he saw it as. He really has the most incredible life story, from the child of a one armed Russian-Jewish Anarchist and a German activist, to hiding in France during WWII from the Holocaust, to finding his way after the war in a very odd path to the heights of Mathematics. He really was an exceptional human being. It's unfortunate his disillusionment led him to leave math completely, and slowly retreat out of society, and probably to develop the mental illness that dominated his later life. A while ago I found some of his writings from the post-math era online, I wonder if they're still around. Strange stuff, all about hermaphroditic angels and his personal beliefs? We have lost a truly unique and incredible human being, but I'm not sure he would appreciate me saying that "we" lost anything.