Paul Samuelson

Paul Samuelson died. His economics text taught plenty of people the basics of economics (guns and butter, to start with). I count myself among them, though "taught" might be stretching things a bit far in my case.

True story: A friend and I once made our way through the corridors of MIT in search of Samuelson's office, to try to pay our respects. We found it, but he wasn't in. We stood in front with our heads bowed anyway.

Go well, Mr Samuelson. There are many who remember you.