Remembering Charles M. Vest 15th President of MIT
1990-2004

My condolences to Rebecca and the family. Chuck lent a helping hand in the defense of the Baha'is in Iran when they were being arrested for trying to provide education to their students. I miss Chuck more and more as I look back on this example of his instinct for doing what is right and not pausing, as some university administrators do, to make political safety calculations. Chuck felt moral outrage about the human rights violation happening here and acted.

Shortly after Chuck Vest arrived at MIT, I saw him on a sunday having lunch in the student center by himself and I went over to welcome him to MIT. When I introduced myself, his response was warm and friendly and he even reminded me of our meeting years ago at a conference. And it was also clear that he was up to date on various of my activities at MIT. The warmth and style of that brief conversation in the student center was totally characteristic of the wonderful person that Chuck Vest has always been. And characteristic of his wonderful ability to connect personally with everyone he encountered, and his incredible attention to detail. Chuck was an extraordinary gift to MIT and to the NAE. I personally miss him as do an uncountable number of others. But it was a true joy to have known him.

My condolences to the family and my sincere thanks for sharing him with us.

Wow. 14 years is a long time at the helm of the most rigorous university of higher education. Rest well President Vest. Even though we have never met, I have greatly benefited from your dedicated service to the MIT community.

So sorry to hear of President Vest's death -- I hope his family and friends can find some comfort in how well he will be remembered by many MIT alumni.

Heartfelt condolences to the Vest family. I was at the Tute in the 90s, remember those years fondly, and appreciate Chuck for everything he did to make my time there a life-changing experience.

Dear family of Dr. Vest:

We at MIT were all touched in some way by the life of Dr. Vest. I was a doctoral student during his presidency, and I appreciated very much his attitude of service and empowerment. From little-publicized efforts such as supporting the needs of the working mothers at MIT to his phenomenal, trend-setting initiative with OpenCourseWare, he demonstrated through his actions that he cared very much about his community and the world. His decisions reflected thoughtful consideration of the needs of multiple groups; he listened to their voices and worked tirelessly at working toward solutions with them to benefit both them and their successors. His contributions will be far-reaching and long-lasting.

Not only was Dr. Vest a model of insightfulness and generosity, but so was his staff. The attitudes of his closest colleagues were consistent with that of Dr. Vest. The unity and harmony at the leadership level made morale across campus high and efforts to improve quality of life for all worth doing.

I extend my deepest condolences to you through this time of grieving and reflecting.

With fond memories of this generous and considerate man,
Colleen Vandevoorde

Charles Vest was the president of MIT during my PhD studies there in the 1990s, and in many respects was the public face of the institution.
He ran a trim ship and those were good years for me. He told a story at our convocation about his own graduation many years previous- upon receiving his diploma he stopped to ask for advice and received the brisk, whispered command, "Keep moving!" This was advice he followed, and wise counsel for us all. It was a pleasure to shake his hand that sunny day. President Vest had an outstanding career as a scholar, educator, and academic leader. He will be missed. My deepest condolences to his family.

-Michael Bradley, University of Saskatchewan

My deepest sympathies to the Vest family. I only met President Vest once at my 25th reunion. He impressed me as a warm and gracious man. He made a point of meeting everyone who came to the reunion and to shake their hand. A real people person.

I am sorry to learn of Dr. Vest's passing. I only met him once- at my 50th MIT reunion some time ago. But I was very impressed with his interest in everyone and everything. He had a twinkle in his eye and a great sense of humor and gave a feeling of genuine warmth and approachability. He will be missed.

Dear Family:

MIT and the world has certainly lost a dear angel. Professor Charles M. Vest represented the epitomy of excellence at MIT and beyond. I remember the day he shook my hand at my doctorate graduation as well as my hooding ceremony like it was yesterday. He was a man of excellent stature and integrity. He will dearly be missed!

I remember arriving at MIT in the fall, and immediately becoming aware of the presence of Chuck Vest. Unlike any president since, Dr. Vest 's influence was known and felt throughout every corner of the institute. During that first term, he wrote me a handwritten note, letting me know that he too graduated from a public high school in West Virginia, and that he was proud we were still representing. His presence and influence was everywhere, to the big important projects, to the minutiae of incoming freshmen credentials. That letter from him helped me face the challenges that MIT presented then, and it still helps me face challenges today.
I never spoke to him in person, but he must have been a very good man. I'm truly sorry he is gone. My thoughts are with his family and friends today.