Andy CloseDr. Charles A. Cable died on September 16, 2021 following a 24-year battle with prostate cancer.
He was born on January 15, 1932, in Akeley, Pa., and is a son of Elton and Margaret (Fox) Cable.
In 1955 he married Mabel E. Yeck.
He graduated from Warren High School in 1950 and from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania in 1954 with a B.S. in mathematics and science. He served in the U.S. Army in Fort Chaffee, Ark., from 1955 until 1957. Prior to being drafted into the Army he taught mathematics at Interlaken High School and immediately after his discharge, he taught mathematics at Tidioute High School, Tidioute, Pa.
Dr. Cable completed his Ph.D. in mathematics at Pennsylvania State University in 1969. He was supported in his graduate study by a number of fellowships. He was the recipient of two-year-long National Science Foundation Fellowships, a National Defense education Act Fellowship, two summer-length national Science Foundation Fellow-ships and a summer-length General Electric Fellow-ship.
Dr. Cable served as an Assistant Professor of mathematics at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa., from 1959 until 1967. In 1969 Dr. Cable was appointed as an Associate Professor of Mathematics at Allegheny College. The following year he was named as chair of the Mathematics Department. In 1975 he was promoted to the rank of Professor and he retired in 1996 as Professor Emeritus of Mathematics.
During his tenure at Allegheny, Professor Cable served on a number of committees and in particular was elected five times to Faculty Council, each term being of three years duration. He served a term as chair of Faculty Council and a term as chair of the Science Division. He also served a two-year term as president of the local chapter of the American Association of University Professors. While he was chair of the Mathematics Department, he instituted the annual publication of Math News. This newsletter was sent to all Mathematics Alumni of Allegheny, describing activities of math faculty, present math students and math alumni.
Dr. Cable also instituted a Mathematics Department Speaker Series at Allegheny and was able to invite a nationally known mathematician to give a week-long series of talks each Fall Term and each Spring Term. This particular arrangement for the series was started in 1972 and continued throughout his tenure as chair of the department. These speakers also interacted with students in small group discussions and at mealtimes with students both on campus and at the Cable home on Jefferson Street.
Professor Cable authored or co-authored a number of articles in refereed mathematical journals. His main research interests were in combinatorics and graph theory.
Dr. Cable was active in the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) at both the sectional and national level. He served a term as Chairman of the Allegheny Mountain Section of the MAA and a term as Governor of the MAA. Dr. Cable also served on the Publications and Student Chapter Committees of the MAA. He was also the first Associate Editor of Focus, an MAA monthly publication. He instituted a session at the annual Allegheny Mountain Section meeting of the MAA for undergraduate students to present research talks. Almost all of the MAA sections now have included sessions for undergraduate students to present talks at their annual section meetings.
Professor Cable was most proud of his efforts to introduce Student Chapters of the MAA to colleges and universities in this country. In January, 2005, Dr. Cable was given a Meritorious Service Award in mathematics by the MAA at a ceremony in Atlanta, Ga., for his service to the MAA at both the sectional and national levels.
Dr. Cable enjoyed competing in various sports activities throughout his life. While he was a faculty member at Juniata College he played handball, basketball and tennis. During the years when he was a professor at Allegheny he engaged in tennis, racketball, sailing and downhill skiing. After he retired he continued playing tennis, downhill skiing and sailing.
In addition to his loving wife, Mabel, of 65 years, he is survived by two children, Christopher Cable and his wife Nancy of Dal-las, Texas, and Carolyn Blinsmon and her husband Brad of Denver, Colo.; three grandchildren: Ryan Cable and his wife Isabel, Dr. Tracy Cable and her husband Barrett Davis, and Heather Blinsmon; and one great-grandchild, David Cable. He is also survived by a twin brother Clair Cable and his wife Monchaya, who reside in Russell, Pa., and Bangkok, Thailand.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
A celebration of Dr. Cable’s life will be held at a later date, which will be announced and also live-streamed via facebook live at Stephen P. Mizner Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc.
Arrangements have been made with STEPHEN P. MIZNER FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, INC., 404 CHESTNUT ST., MEADVILLE.
Share a memory or condolence at www.miznerfuneralhome.com
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Charles and Mabel Cable Fund for Visiting Scholars and Speakers in support of the Department of Mathematics at Allegheny College, Institutional Advancement, 520 N. Main St., Meadville, PA 16335 or to Hospice of Crawford County, 766 Liberty St., Meadville, PA 16335.
