WASHINGTON | By Pablo Pardo | The last time I interviewed Gary Becker in his office I told him: “I hope to visit you here in ten years.” It had been almost ten years—December 1996—since I had visited him in his office. He smiled and said: “Well, I hope to be around in ten years.” Unfortunately, his wish was not fulfilled. The interview was on June 7, 2006, so he had just around 7 years and 10 months left to live. Becker, however, had exactly the same appearance the first time I had met him in 1996. He was still playing tennis and swimming.