Vassilios Dougalis ’71
We sadly report the loss of our distinguished classmate Vassilis to cancer in his native Greece Jan. 1, 2022.
He came to Princeton for junior year from Moraitis School and the National Technical University in Athens (NTUA). He immediately showed his academic prowess, graduating with highest honors in civil engineering with election to Phi Beta Kappa. Vassilis roomed with Mageirou, Haning, Sease ’73, and Monoyios ’72.
Vassilis earned a Ph.D. in applied mathematics at Harvard in 1976 and then taught at the University of Tennessee until 1983. He married Tina in 1976 and had a daughter, Anastasia, in 1979 and a son, Achilles, in 1986.
Vassilis had a remarkable career in applied mathematics as a researcher, administrator, and educator. In 1983, he returned to Greece and served on the faculty at the University of Crete and NTUA. In 1993, he joined the University of Athens mathematics department, elevating its status to international excellence before retiring as professor emeritus in 2016. He served as board chairman of the renowned Foundation for Research and Technology and its Computational Mathematics Institute.
Vassilis was honored with the Outstanding University Educator Award and authored the standard textbook on numerical analysis in Greece. He served as a Princeton Schools Committee interviewer.
The class extends its condolences to Tina, Anastasia, Achilles, two grandchildren, and other family and friends.
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Dimitrios Kostas
1 Month AgoIn Loving Memory, From a Former Student
Vassilios was not only an exceptional educator but also a man of profound humanity, compassion, and integrity. Throughout his life, he devoted himself wholeheartedly to the service of his students, teaching both undergraduate and postgraduate courses with passion, clarity, and tireless commitment.
I vividly remember that during a time when the Department of Mathematics was occupied, he ensured that classes in Numerical Analysis continued without disruption, relocating them to alternative spaces such as the Academia. His determination to maintain the continuity of education, even under difficult circumstances, was deeply inspiring.
What truly set Vassilios apart, however, was his extraordinary sense of humanity. During the final stages of his life, while he was battling cancer, he chose not to withdraw from his duties. Though he had every reason to rest and focus on his health, he continued to teach us — week after week — with quiet strength and unwavering resolve. His presence in the classroom, in pain yet smiling, was not only an act of courage but a profound gesture of love and responsibility. He could have stayed home, yet he stood before us, always putting his students first.
Vassilios was more than a professor. He was a mentor, a guide, and above all, a deeply humane individual. He saw each student not merely as a pupil, but as a person — worthy of respect, encouragement, and care. He listened. He inspired. He gave his time generously, and he gave his heart fully.
His legacy lives on not just in the knowledge he imparted, but in the values he embodied — kindness, sacrifice, humility, and dedication. I will never forget him — for his brilliance, his courage, and above all, his humanity. He was, and always will be, a shining example of what it means to live a life in service of others.