Gordon M. Jensen *56

Gordon Jensen, who had taught history at MIT and the University of Hartford, died March 25, 2014, of complications from open-heart surgery. He was 85.

Jensen graduated from Yale in 1950, and earned a Ph.D. in history from Princeton in 1956. He then taught history at MIT, and in the 1960s became chair of the history department at the University of Hartford.

Later, he did graduate work in mathematics and computer science at the University of Colorado and taught computer science at Alma College and Illinois College. When his wife, Gwendolyn, served as president of Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pa., from 1991 to 2001, Jensen was a full-time presidential spouse.

In retirement, Jensen studied music theory and composition at MIT, took voice lessons, and sang in the Cambridge Community Chorus.

He is survived by his wife, Gwendolyn; two children; and two grandsons.

Graduate memorials are prepared by the APGA.