For those of you who aren't statisticians: D. R. Cox was an absolute legend. Revolutionized the field of survival statistics with his proportional hazards model. Shares 50% of the credit for the Box-Cox test and all the giggles it generates in undergrads. Invented the Cox point process. A zillion other things. His contributions were great and he will be missed.
Edit: I have to edit my comment because calling him an absolute legend doesn't feel like it was doing him justice. I'm not kidding, I don't think I can state how important he was. He's in the top 5 statisticians of all time- everyone's ranking of top 5 varies but Cox is in the top 5 on almost every statistician's list- and will probably still be top 5 until the future is perfectly predictable and there is no need for probability and statistics anymore. There may never be someone that is as productive and with as impactful discoveries. Sure, there will be people that write more papers, but nobody will write as many great papers. Sure, there are other great statisticians that have a few great discoveries named after them, but there are none that have as many great discoveries named after them.
Edit: I have to edit my comment because calling him an absolute legend doesn't feel like it was doing him justice. I'm not kidding, I don't think I can state how important he was. He's in the top 5 statisticians of all time- everyone's ranking of top 5 varies but Cox is in the top 5 on almost every statistician's list- and will probably still be top 5 until the future is perfectly predictable and there is no need for probability and statistics anymore. There may never be someone that is as productive and with as impactful discoveries. Sure, there will be people that write more papers, but nobody will write as many great papers. Sure, there are other great statisticians that have a few great discoveries named after them, but there are none that have as many great discoveries named after them.