Neil R. Grabois, Colgate University’s 13th president and professor of mathematics emeritus, who led the institution to new levels of stature and initiated Hamilton’s Partnership for Community Development, died peacefully in his sleep Oct. 6.
As president from 1988 to 1999, Grabois led Colgate — with trademark infectious enthusiasm — through a period of growth and increased recognition among the country’s leading independent liberal arts colleges.
Early in his tenure, Grabois and the Board of Trustees’ Special Committee on Residential Life led a review of student life that resulted in improved housing on campus, increased extracurricular opportunities for students, and a newly defined relationship with fraternities and sororities.
Grabois guided the University through Campaign Colgate, whose $158 million in gifts over five-and-a-half years added to the endowment; provided campus upgrades and new buildings including Curtis, Drake, and Persson halls; underwrote scholarships, teaching resources, student research, and off-campus study; financed academic initiatives; and more.
In 1998, Grabois invited representatives from the village, town, and University to explore ways to address the declining conditions of buildings in Hamilton. He offered seed funding for what became the Partnership for Community Development, which works to enhance sustainable economic opportunity and community vitality in the village and town of Hamilton and the surrounding area.
“Neil Grabois applied his deep intellect and personable statesmanship to bring Colgate to a new level of prominence among America’s liberal arts institutions,” said President Brian W. Casey. “The Colgate community mourns his passing and owes him a debt of gratitude.”
While presiding over Colgate, Grabois also taught mathematics classes when his schedule permitted. Members of his administrative staff in James B. Colgate Hall grew accustomed to seeing Grabois and his students in his office or foyer deeply engaged in discussions of math problems. Grabois held ‘drop-in hours’ at his office and at the O’Connor Campus Center for students to share their ideas or concerns during free periods between classes, and he was often seen in the warmer months riding his motorcycle to campus.
His own education included a bachelor’s from Swarthmore College in 1957, and he earned his master’s and PhD in mathematics from the University of Pennsylvania. His extensive teaching career led him to the University of Pennsylvania, Lafayette College, MIT, and Williams College, where he also served in various administrative positions, including provost, immediately prior to joining Colgate.
Grabois was frequently called upon by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools to serve on the external review committees that examine colleges and universities for accreditation. While still at Williams, he served as chairman of the Middle States Committee that visited Colgate during its accreditation review in the late 1980s. He also completed a term as chairman of the Commission of Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU) of New York State during his tenure at Colgate.
Upon Grabois’ retirement in 1999, Colgate awarded him an honorary doctor of humane letters degree. In addition, current and former trustees at the time created a $4 million fund — dubbed ‘The eNRGy Club’ to incorporate his initials and recognize his infectious enthusiasm. The fund allowed for the creation of the Neil R. Grabois Endowed Chair in the Department of Mathematics and underwrote construction of the quadrangle between Case Library, Persson Hall, and James C. Colgate Hall in concert with the building of Little Hall.
After stepping down from the Colgate presidency, Grabois went on to become vice president and director for strategic planning and program coordination for the Carnegie Corporation of NY. He later became the dean of the Milano School for International Affairs, Management, and Urban Policy at the New School in New York City and served on several boards, including Swarthmore College, The Jewish Foundation for the Education of Women, and the Michael Wolk Heart Foundation.
Grabois is survived by his wife, Miriam, and sons Adam and Dan.