The author shares a heartfelt tribute to his late wife, Elise Cawley, who passed away unexpectedly after recovering from heart surgery. They were together for 36 years, a period the author describes as illuminated by Elise's intellect, love, and energy. Elise was a brilliant pure mathematician, known for her ability to grasp the essence of things and her appreciation for truth and beauty. She often said truth and beauty were the same, a concept she embodied through her creativity in mathematics, design, and personal style.

Elise was a forceful intellect, kind, persistent, and a humanist at heart. She favored classicism over modernism and held a Platonic view of mathematical truth. Her spontaneity was balanced by a drive for intellectual and aesthetic rigor. She had a unique relationship with their four children, taking immense pride in them and nurturing their individual growth. She also created a beautiful, warm home.

Elise was a top-flight mathematician, whose early results are still cited. Though she called herself a "retired mathematician," she engaged with math enthusiastically. The author reflects on how Elise's quick mind often saw deeper themes in his work, particularly concerning computational irreducibility and her humanistic worldview. They shared profound discussions, even lively debates, on the nature of mathematics, with Elise ultimately proving correct in her humanistic view of its foundations.

Elise was an original thinker, balancing spontaneity with precision. She saw herself more as a philosopher than a person of action, holding strong opinions but preferring to understand rather than force change. She possessed both great confidence and humility, sharing insightful contributions when conversations touched upon her knowledge. The author considered them an outstanding match, valuing thematic thinking, aesthetics, and well-done work, though their interaction styles differed. Elise, born in 1961, was the second of four children and excelled academically, particularly in math and writing.