Just this morning I came across your biography of Tom Blyth on MacTutor. 

I met Tom in 1982 when I was a foreign, non-graduating undergraduate at the University of St Andrews. I was enrolled in his Abstract Algebra class. I recall him entering the lecture hall smartly, with the day's notes tucked neatly under his left arm and his academic gown flowing gracefully behind him. By way of introduction, he made it clear that any 'e' applied to his surname, however silent, was ill-advised. We were also informed that later in the term we would cover Modules and Rings, the latter 'perhaps of especial interest to the young ladies.' The day's lecture was superb, as were all to follow. I have my notes to his lectures still and marvel at their clarity and rigor, faithful testaments to algebra's beauty.

Tom was assigned my tutor for the class. Every week we'd meet in his office for algebra, tea, and banter. By term's end (and likely long before), 'Professor Blyth' became 'Tom'.

I no longer recall if it was that year or the next that Tom invited me to his home for dinner. It was then I met his lovely wife, Jane, whom I shall never forget. The evening was nothing short of magical with its drams (and/or gin and tonics?), scintillating conversation on every topic (absent mathematics, thankfully, as I had no talent), and Jane's exquisite steak and kidney pie.

Sadly, we fell out of touch as I lived my years in Massachusetts and his in Fife. I did return to St. Andrew recently hoping that I might find him. Exiting the bus station, I took the well-known trek down Doubledyb Road, right onto Kennedy Gardens, across the small bridge to the Mathematical Institute, and up the stairs where I remembered his office to be ...

Of course, I had no expectation that Tom would remember me. I was, after all, the most unremarkable of students, and 40 years had elapsed. Nonetheless, I would have liked to have told him that I remembered him and Jane with great fondness for all these years. And ever will.

Should Jane and Abigail have survived Tom, would you please share this letter with them? I would be most grateful.

Yours sincerely,

— an American student of Tom's