Lasting Memories

Patrick Colonel Suppes
March 17, 1922-Nov. 17, 2014
Stanford, California

Dr. Patrick Colonel Suppes, the Lucie Stern Professor of Philosophy Emeritus at Stanford University, died peacefully in his campus home surrounded by family on Monday, Nov. 17, 2014. He was 92.

Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on March 17, 1922, Pat quickly distinguished himself as a gifted and charming student. Pat spent one year at the University of Tulsa and one year at the University of Oklahoma. In 1943, Pat was called to active duty in the Army Reserve. He graduated as 2nd Lieutenant, with a B.S. in a "special meteorology program" from the University of Chicago. He served as a meteorologist in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946, first in the Solomon Islands and later in Guam, eventually coming to the rank of captain. Following the war, he moved to New York City where he earned a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Columbia University.

Pat joined the Stanford philosophy faculty in 1950. It didn't take long for his reach to spread throughout the university, where he championed interdisciplinary work, ultimately earning courtesy appointments in the departments of statistics, psychology and education. He founded both Stanford's Education Program for Gifted Youth (director 1992-2010) and Stanford's Institute for Mathematical Studies in the Social Sciences (director 1959-1992). During his 64 years at Stanford, Pat's academic output was beyond prodigious. With his many beloved colleagues he published hundreds of papers and 32 books.

Remarkably, Pat's influence went far beyond his academic work. A true Silicon Valley entrepreneur, Pat spearheaded the field of computer-based instruction. In 1967 he formed the pioneering Computer Curriculum Corporation (CCC), the first company focused on placing computers in the classroom. Much of this was based on his highly influential elementary textbook series, "Sets and Numbers."

Pat was a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (1962), the American Psychological Association (1964) and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1968), and a member of the National Academy of Education (1965), the National Academy of Sciences (1978) and the American Philosophical Society (1991).

In 1990 he was awarded the National Medal of Science by President George H. Bush.

Pat is survived by countless students, colleagues, and his large and loving family: his wife, Michelle Nguyen; his five children, Patricia Suppes of Los Altos Hills, Deborah Suppes of Woodside, John Suppes and wife Dee Ann Suppes of Palo Alto, Alexandra Suppes and husband David Franzson of New York, and Michael Suppes and partner Alison Hyland of New York; and his three step-children, Colin Bang Nguyen of Stanford and Kenna Thi Nguyen and Parker An Nguyen of San Jose. He is also survived by his five grandchildren, Kyle Suppes of Palo Alto, Anney Suppes of San Francisco, Natasha Suppes and John Suppes of Los Altos Hills, and Ísold Suppes of New York; his nephew, George Suppes III and wife Sarah Suppes of Burlingame; and lastly, his much loved younger brother, George Biddle Suppes Jr. of Tulsa, Oklahoma.