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

President Vest was a leader, a scholar, and truly gentleman who personified all that is best about MIT in what he did and how he did it. I can only imagine what a fine spouse, father, and grandfather he was. Sincere condolences to the Vest family.

Dr. Vest will be remembered by all of us. I entered MIT as a graduate student when he began his first term. He came to our picnic and walked around greeting all of us, maybe anticipating as much changes to his life as we, too, felt. At graduation, he was there. It was a job well done, and, I hope, a life happily lived.

Dear Ms. Vest,

I am deeply sorry for Prof. Vest´s passing away. I was told that while ago but I was not sure how I should address this. I do not have your address, for instance. This night, I suddenly realize that perhaps, an email could do it. Today, I friend of mine, former MIT student, told me of this and I, gladly, am using it.

In an recent email, Prof. Vest told me of the disease with all the elegance he had through his life, as I came to learn. No grieving, no complaints, just an "en passant" information. He was fighting with dignity, with savoir faire. Impressive. As I lost a friend, so many years ago, for the very same cancer, when I read that, I got stuck. I could not believe it. But Prof. Vest was beyond this. Yours pictures show him happy!

Prof. Vest taught me a lot and I am deeply thankful for this. I told him that so many times but I would like to let you know also. I believe that he showed me the way so many times that I understand that much of the person I am now, I owe it to him. Academically, he was super. Personaly, he was great. Even far apart, I always had him and his most beautiful family in high regards.

He was my thesis advisor, back in Ann Arbor. Perhaps you may remind me as his brazilian student (not sure, if he had others from here). I clearly remember you but, he had so many students that you may not remind me. This is not important, for sure.

Anyway, Ms. Vest, please accept my most sincere sympathies and send my best feelings for all the family.

Sincerely, Washington Braga

Dear Vest Family,
My condolences to you on Chuck's passing. I knew him from his days at the University of Michigan where he was helpful in getting my appointment as an adjunct professor in the Chemical Engineering department in the 1980s. I was delighted when he assumed the presidency of MIT where I did my graduate work. We saw each other at a number of MIT events in the following years. He did wonderful things for the school in terms of admissions policies and the open-courseware initiative. He was a strong and effective leader with a good sense of humor. He will be deeply missed by many.
Howard Klee

My condolences to the Vest family. I graduated the year before Dr. Vest became President, however, I returned to MIT often and the improvements & changes to my alma mater are attributed to him. Thanks again for being a great President for a great institution of learning.

Dear Vest Family

I was a MBA student at Sloan during Vest Presidence. I candidly remember Mr. Vest speech at my graduation ceremony, He said something like this " I don´t like to be compared to a role model. The dictionary defines model as a small replica of the real thing". . Former President Bill Clinton who gave a speech at the ceremony , said " Mr. Vest, don´t worry, you´re the real thing". By the virtue of his example and his work, Mr Vest was the real thing.for the MIT community

Wish the best for the Vest Family. My thought and wishes

Our condolences to family and friends. It was a pleasure to know Dr. Vest in our time at MIT. Working in the yearbook darkroom, I fondly recall many photos of him when he was President. One especially comes to mind where he was seated in the MIT antique vehicle, smiling broadly and waving. The MIT beaver was in the jump seat waving as well. When President Vest waved and smiled, MIT was too. Rest in peace.