On behalf of the board and staff of The Rockefeller Foundation, we deeply mourn the passing of our friend and partner Vartan Gregorian.
Born in Iran, Vartan came to the United States and eventually transformed how New Yorkers, Americans, and those around the world think, work, and live. As a scholar, president of Brown University, head of New York Public Library, and long-time president of Carnegie Corporation of New York, he deeply believed—and demonstrated—that good ideas, good works, and good people can change the world for the better.
On a personal note, I spoke with Vartan earlier this week. He was—as ever—full of ideas and a force for progress. At a moment of crisis, when so much of what Vartan believed in is being tested, we’ll miss his dedication to a life of meaning and purpose.