Dear William, Daniel, Catherine, Michael, and Sarah, (and your parents), (and any future descendants and their parents),

Some time ago, I told you about Your Great-Grandfather Kostro’s Resume. On Page 2 of that Resume, in the Publications section, at the top of the page, notice the second entry: Matrix Division. Well, I received a copy of that Paper from my Dad sometime after it was published in June 1963 — I probably received my copy from my Dad in 1968 or 1969. Here is a copy of that Paper for you to review:

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[If you want to print-out this Paper, go HERE]
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I believe that I received my copy in 1968 or 1969 because at that time I was taking courses in Calculus and Matrix Algebra in college.

I remember enjoying Mathematics in school (EXCEPT Geometry!!!). In high school, I took Algebra, Geometry, and beginner Calculus. Then, in college, I took Algebra (college edition); followed by Differential Calculus, then Integral Calculus and Matrix Algebra.

However, I did not fully appreciate the power of my mathematical knowledge until I began programming computers to solve financial problems at my job at Kuhn Loeb. There, as I was trying to figure out how to solve a financial problem, I remembered about the Paper that my Dad had given me several years back. I found that paper, read it MANY times, trying to understand it, and I reviewed my text books, particularly my Matrix Algebra text book; and slowly, it all came to me — and, just as I suspected; magic happened!

To help me remember the process, I wrote my own notes (which I still have) and here they are for your benefit, should you ever want to play around with Matrix Algebra:

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[If you want to print-out these notes, go HERE]
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I have to admit, as I look at my notes and my Dad’s Paper now, “it’s all Greek to me.” But then, in the early to mid-1970’s, this was magic — I could solve equations that no one else could (by that, I mean, none of my peers could). Translating this mathematical knowledge into computer code allowed me to write programs that could solve complex financial problems, giving my employer an advantage over our competition. For example, when we were dealing with Ship Financing, I could structure the loan in a way that fit the client’s special needs — be that, no payments for several years, or some other requirements the client had. I had a GREAT time doing this!

Since I owe all this success to my Dad, let me show you a few pictures where he is in them:

July 3, 1976: Marek discussing life with his Grandfather George – in our backyard at 722 Carleton Road, Westfield, NJ

July 1980: celebrating Hanka’s Imieniny — Malgosia and her Grandfather George

August 31, 1980: Your Great-Grandfahter George Kostro (my father; with your Pra-Babcia Irena Neumann and your Pra-Babcia Irene Kostro)

1981: Pawel & his Dad – Christmas at my Parent’s house

1981: Rysiu, Marek, Pawel, Dad, Tom, Alfred & Elzunia – at the Leonard Hill State Forest fire-tower

1981: Rysiu, Prababcia Irene Kostro, Malgosia, Marek & my Dad — on our ‘Farm’

May 8, 1982: Prababcia Irena Neumann, Marek, my Dad & my Mom – Marek’s First Holy Communion

Summer 1982: Malgosia & my Dad at Elzunia’s & Al’s

September 10, 1983: Tom’s & Patty’s Wedding — Dad, Pawel, Malgosia & Krysia

George Kostro (June 18, 1923 – July 11, 1984) — Maple Grove Cemetery in Kew Gardens, Queens, New York City.

Love,

Dziadziuś Paweł.

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