Dear Members of the TC Community:

It is with great sadness that I inform you of the passing of Bruce Vogeli, Clifford Brewster Upton Professor Emeritus of Mathematical Education. Bruce, who was 90, was a beloved member of our faculty for 56 years, chairing our Program in Mathematics Education for much of that time.

Because of circumstances relating to the COVID pandemic, the College only learned this week that Bruce passed away in early May.

Bruce cared profoundly about teaching, his field and his students. His legacy on all fronts is monumental, and the number of lives he touched is staggering.

Bruce published prolifically on topics that ran the gamut from second-grade math to statistics and probability. He produced more than 100 titles that were used by more than 10 million school children daily during the 1980s and 1990s. His 1968 book on secondary schools for the mathematically talented established his reputation in mathematics education research.

Enduring as Bruce’s crowning achievement in scholarship are his edited volumes on the teaching of math in other cultures. This magisterial series ranges in focus from the former Soviet Union to the Middle East and Latin America – all regions where he spent time and built a global network of scholars and policymakers. His book Mathematics and its Teaching in the Muslim World was published this year.

By a conservative estimate, Bruce taught 2,000 Teachers College students and sponsored 200 dissertations and theses. His generosity in publishing former students in his edited works was legendary.

Nearly two years ago, when Bruce’s legion of friends and admirers gathered to honor him, many offered moving tributes. But perhaps one former student put it best: “He opens doors for you to believe in yourself.” Through his work, his students and the connections he established around the world, Bruce Vogeli will continue opening doors for many years to come.

Thomas Bailey
President, Teachers College