It was with shock that we learned about the passing recently of Dr Simon Marais (50), founder and chairperson of Allan Gray (Australia). Hailed in business circles as a "contrarian and activist", but also as "a gentle giant … well-liked and hugely respected by everyone who knew him – including his enemies".
A giant Simon certainly was, but closer to home in Stellenbosch and at STIAS this was not in the first instance linked to his prowess in business and investment, nor his towering at two metres, but rather to his intellectual capacity and originality. Simon was a member of the remarkable 1986 Honours class in theoretical physics at Stellenbosch University, who have all since made their mark in South Africa and internationally, primarily in physics or related fields.
I had the privilege that year of teaching the course on quantum field theory and particle physics – Simon's grasp and originality of thought was in a class of its own. He continued to complete a master's degree in theoretical physics at Stellenbosch under the supervision of the late Professor Chris Engelbrecht, graduating cum laude with a thesis on A comparison of quark distributions in bound and free nucleons. Subsequently Simon completed a PhD in theoretical condensed matter physics at Cambridge University, and returned to South Africa in 1991, initially to take up a post-doctoral position in theoretical physics at Stellenbosch. At that time he met and joined founder Allan Gray and made a career choice – the rest is, well, history.
Simon was instrumental in establishing contact between the Stellenbosch Institute for Advance Study (STIAS) and the Trellis Charitable Trust, procuring two major grants awarded by the Trust to STIAS, the first in 2010. At a time when the STIAS programme was still rather precariously positioned, this made every difference.
Our thoughts are with Simon's wife Corena and their sons Martin, Wilhelm and Simon.
On the photo, Dr Simon Marais (front right) was part of the 1986 Honours class in theoretical physics at Stellenbosch University. He went on to become the founder and chair of Allan Gray in Australia and heralded as one of the country's best-known and respected investors. At the back, from left to right, Evan de Kock, Fritz Hahne, Jean Joubert, Frederik Scholtz, Hendrik Geyer, Chris Engelbrecht, Cecile Thom, Jan Engelbrecht and Jacqueline Marais. In the front, seated, Pierre Lacock and Simon Marais.
- In this YouTube video, Dr Marais explains to Theo Vorster from KykNet why physics is the ideal background for working in the financial sector.
