Lasting Memories

Charles Pius Bonini
Nov. 22, 1933-June 6, 2025
Stanford, California

Stanford, CA — Charles Pius “Chuck” Bonini, a pioneering scholar of decision sciences and a beloved father, husband, grandfather, teacher and mentor passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on June 6, 2025.

For more than four decades, Professor Bonini served on the faculty of the Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB), where he held the William R. Timken Professorship of Management Science. He joined the GSB in 1959 and helped shape generations of students through his clarity of thought, intellectual rigor, and enduring dedication to teaching.

His research focused on the application of quantitative and statistical techniques to decision-making, including decision analysis, optimization models, queuing systems, simulation, and data mining. He taught across the MBA, PhD, MSx, and Executive Education programs, and co-directed a joint Executive Education program with the National University of Singapore. He co-authored the influential textbook Quantitative Analysis for Management, widely used in business schools around the world.

From 1987 to 1993, he served as associate dean and director of the MBA Program. In the mid-1990s, he was instrumental in establishing the Charles P. Bonini Partnership for Diversity Fellowship Program, supporting exceptional MBA students and advancing diversity and inclusion at Stanford GSB. In 1999, he received the Robert T. Davis Award, one of the school’s highest honors, recognizing his extraordinary service and leadership.

Among his contributions to the field, Professor Bonini is known for the observation that as a model of a complex system becomes more complete, it becomes less understandable. This observation – which became known as Bonini’s paradox—is an insight with enduring relevance in business, science, and policy.

Chuck was a man of wide-ranging interests and deep personal warmth. He was a devoted father to Julia (Rick), Charles, Barbara, Sheila, Griffin (Sarah), Colin (Melissa), and Cissie, a wonderful stepfather to Liz (Steve), and a proud grandfather to nine grandchildren. When asked his principal avocation for a 1969 faculty profile he responded, ‘behavioral observation of small children’. For the past 47 years, he shared his life with his wife, Barbara. They enjoyed travel, time in Ashland and Lake Tahoe, Stanford basketball and football games, spending time with the grandchildren, children and friends; and lots of line dancing. He had a love of roses, tending to many rose bushes with care and quiet pride.

Chuck is remembered not only for his intellectual contributions, but for his incredible kindness, his humility, and ability to connect with people across generations and disciplines.

He is survived by his wife, children, stepdaughter and grandchildren. He also leaves behind a vast community of former students, colleagues, and friends who will carry forward his wisdom and generous spirit.