Joseph Steven Madachy (March 16, 1927 – March 27, 2014) was a research chemist, technical editor and recreational mathematician. He was the lead editor of Journal of Recreational Mathematics for nearly 30 years and then served as editor emeritus. He was owner, publisher and editor of its predecessor, Recreational Mathematics Magazine, which appeared from 1961 to 1964.
Early life and education Madachy was born in Star Junction, Pennsylvania, to Steven and Anne Madachy. He was raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He became interested in recreational mathematics after reading Eugene Northrop's 1944 book, Riddles in Mathematics. After service in World War II, he attended Western Reserve University on the G.I. Bill and earned a bachelor's and a master's in Chemistry.
Career Madachy moved to Dayton, Ohio, and worked for Mound Laboratories. He made original contributions to the field of recreational mathematics.RECREATIONAL MATHEMATICS - The Fibonacci Quarterly In 1960 he wrote to recreational mathematician Martin Gardner, asking whether Gardner knew of any publications devoted solely to recreational mathematics, as he was considering starting such a project. Gardner responded in the negative, including a box containing his correspondence and suggesting Madachy could use the addresses to promote the magazine. From February 1961 to 1964 Madachy published the bimonthly Recreational Mathematics Magazine.
In 1967, Greenwood Press asked him to start the journal again under the title Journal of Recreational Mathematics, which was published by Baywood Publishing starting in 1973. He authored several books on recreational mathematics, including Mathematics on Vacation (1966),Joseph S. Madachy, Mathematics on Vacation, Thomas Nelson & Sons Ltd. 1966 Madachy's Mathematical RecreationsMadachy, J. S., Madachy's Mathematical Recreations, New York: Dover, 1979. and Mathematical Diversions.Hunter, J.A.H. and Madachy, J. S., Mathematical Diversions, New York: Von Nostrand, 1963. He served as the literary agent for Dmitri Borgmann's Language on Vacation. Longtime colleagues and co-authors include Martin Gardner, Harry L. Nelson, and Isaac Asimov, and Solomon Golomb (with pentominos).
He worked with polyominoes, pentominos, prime numbers,Madachy, J. S. "Magic and Antimagic Squares." Ch. 4 in Madachy's Mathematical Recreations. New York: Dover, pp. 85-113, 1979. and amicable numbers. He worked developing mathematical concepts such as cryptarithmetic, used in cyber security applications. He made contributions to Fibonacci series and narcissistic numbersJoseph S. Madachy, Mathematics on Vacation, Thomas Nelson & Sons Ltd. 1966, pages 163-175 and devised puzzles using Fibonacci numbers. His recreational mathematics work included areas in chess, magic squares and calculator art."Calculator Art Contest", Journal of Recreational Mathematics, Baywood Publishing. July 1971
Madachy retired from editing Journal of Recreational Mathematics in 2000.
In popular culture
Madachy is mentioned in the Jack Reacher novel series in the book Never Go Back, which uses perfect digit-to-digit invariant numbers in the plot: "Such numbers had been much discussed by a guy called Joseph Madachy, who once upon a time had been the owner, publisher, and editor of a magazine called Journal of Recreational Mathematics."
Personal life Madachy and his wife, Juliana, lived in Dayton, Ohio and had six children.
References