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Paul Gray, MIT’s 14th president, dies of Alzheimer’s

Paul Gray PhD ’60, in office from 1980 to 1990 as MIT’s 14th president, died Sept. 18 of Alzheimer’s disease at age 85.

During Gray’s term as president, the percentage of female undergrads at MIT increased from approximately 17 percent of undergraduates to over 30 percent, maintaining the trend from the previous administration, according to a diversity report in the January/February 2011 issue of the faculty newsletter.

During Gray’s last four years as president, the percentage of underrepresented minorities among undergraduates went from just over 10 percent in 1987 to just over 15 percent in 1990, according to another report in the same issue. This upward trend levelled off in the years immediately after he left office.

Gray received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from MIT in Course 6-1 (Electrical Engineering). During his time at MIT, he was a brother of Phi Sigma Kappa and a member of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), according to the MIT Alumni Directory.

“To me, he is the iconic president of MIT because he was made out of pure Institute clay, as an undergraduate, graduate, professor, and academic leader,” John Deutch, emeritus professor of chemistry, said in an interview with MIT News.

Before stepping into the presidency, Gray served as dean of engineering and chancellor.

Priscilla King Gray, Paul Gray’s wife (the pair met on a blind date, according to MIT News), founded the Priscilla King Gray Public Service Center.