Dear all,

I learned about Professor Saaty’s work when I was doing my master’s degree in Thailand, Asian Institute of Technology. My thesis advisor recommended that I research the application of AHP methodology for transportation systems. At that point, I was clueless what multi-criteria analysis was all about. To my surprise, it opened my mind to mathematical approach in interpreting complicated neural process of decision making where one is confronted with multiple choices in a complex world. However, I would not have succeeded without Tom sending me two of his books by mail that helped me tremendously to learn and appreciate the concepts. I defended my thesis successfully with the title “Analytic Hierarchy and Analytic Network Processes for the Assessment of Transportation Projects: A Case Study of Kyrgyzstan” in year 2000. Years later, in 2011 to be exact, I got a chance to visit Pittsburgh, my first visit to USA, and there I met Tom and Rosana in their lovely house and they took me out around Pittsburgh. This was a lovely meeting, and I remembered Tom as being someone fatherly, who loves jokes, very personable and warm human being. Before I left, he gave me his collection of jokes with some mathematical riddles. I have included a photo that we took that day.

In my recent work in Asian Development Bank we used AHP to come up with priority investments for road network in the Federated States of Micronesia. This is the testament that his legacy lives on in the farthest corners of the world! May heavens bless his soul

Dear Tom,
What a strong friendship you created! We are together for Thanksgivings, we are organizing ISAHP symposiums, our journal is getting better. We just miss you! Thank you once more creating this great family, this community!
Love,
Birsen Karpak