Hartley Rogers Jr. *52

Hartley Rogers, professor emeritus of mathematics at MIT, died July 17, 2015, at age 89.

Rogers graduated from Yale in 1946 with a bachelor’s degree in English. After a year at Cambridge University, he returned to Yale and earned a master’s degree in physics in 1950. Then, from Princeton, he was awarded a master’s degree in 1951 and a Ph.D. in 1952 in mathematics. From 1952 to 1955, he was the Benjamin Peirce Lecturer at Harvard.

Rogers then became an assistant professor at MIT in 1956 and a full professor in 1964, retiring in 2009. His research interests included mathematical logic, and recursion theory (of which he was a main developer). His 1967 book in the field is a standard reference and remains in print. He was chair of the MIT faculty from 1971 to 1973, associate provost from 1974 to 1980, and chair of the editorial board of the MIT Press from 1974 to 1981. He lectured with eloquence and clarity.

In the 1960s, Rogers took up rowing passionately, winning medals in competitions. He was president of the Boston Rowing Center, which prepared many athletes for the U.S. national team in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Rogers is survived by his wife, Dr. Adrienne E. Rogers; children Hartley Rogers, Campbell Rogers, and Caroline Broderick; and 10 grandchildren.

Graduate memorials are prepared by the APGA.