Robert J.
Plemmons, an American mathematician who specialized in computational mathematics, died on February 6, 2026. He was the emeritus Z.
Smith Reynolds Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science at Wake Forest University. In 1979, he co-authored the book “Nonnegative Matrices in the Mathematical Sciences.” Born in Old Fort, North Carolina, on December 18, 1938, he grew up in rural Appalachia and attended Wake Forest University on a full baseball scholarship.
Robert James Plemmons (December 18, 1938 – February 6, 2026) was an American mathematician who specialized in computational mathematics. He was the emeritus Z. Smith Reynolds Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science at Wake Forest University. In 1979, Plemmons co-authored the book Nonnegative Matrices in the Mathematical Sciences.