Grex died Oct. 29, 2010, in Charlottesville, Va., where he had retired in 1987 after 14 years as a professor and chairman of the sociology department at the University of Virginia.
During World War II he was an Army captain and served two years in European campaigns through Belgium, France, and Germany. He returned to Princeton, where he graduated summa cum laude, and then earned a Ph.D. at Northwestern. He became an instructor in Princeton’s sociology department and published two significant books on criminology, one of which, Society of Captives, had several editions and is still used as a resource book on crime. After a sabbatical year in Mexico, he joined the Northwestern faculty, became sociology chair at Dartmouth, and next became director of the Administration of Justice Program at the University of Denver.
Through his career, he continued his study of art, and his painting became a second successful career. He had showings in many states as well as foreign countries through the State Department’s “Art in Embassies” program.
Grex is survived by Carla, his wife of 46 years, and by many close nephews and nieces.