TONY GORRY

1940-2018

George Anthony “Tony” Gorry, born November 16, 1940 to George Gorry and Helen Starbuck Gorry in Glens Falls, New York, passed away on October 28, 2018 in Houston, Texas after a long illness. Tony completed a BS at Yale University in 1962, MS in chemical engineering at Berkeley in 1963, and the first doctorate in computer science at MIT in 1967. He taught computer science and management at MIT until he moved to Houston in 1975 where he held numerous positions at both Baylor College of Medicine and Rice University. He served as vice president of information technology at both institutions, served on the neuroscience faculty at Baylor, and in the schools of engineering and business at Rice, where he also founded and directed the Keck Center for Computational Biology, and the Center for Technology in Teaching and Learning.

Tony was a nationally recognized scholar with extensive publications in technology, knowledge management, education, applied mathematics, artificial intelligence and clinical decision-making. His prodigious academic accomplishments mirror his contributions beyond the academy, where he consulted, founded several businesses, and served on corporate boards. Tony retired from Rice in 2016 as the Friedkin Professor Emeritus of Management. He was a member of the National Academy of Medicine and a Fellow of the American College of Medical Informatics.

Tony played football and baseball at Yale, was a lifelong runner, and completed the Houston Marathon in lightning quick 2:37. He was an avid fan of the Rice Owls baseball team. He read the classics in ancient Greek, wrote extensively, and published business articles, essays, poems, and in 2017, a book of memoir titled Memory’s Encouragement.

Tony read widely and deeply, spoke eloquently and with wisdom, and was a hilarious storyteller. He had a wit up until his final moments. He was a visionary who inspired the paths of many students, friends, and colleagues. He made everyone feel valued and important.

Tony was beloved by those who knew him, most especially his dear wife Anne, his beautiful and brilliant daughters April, Kate, and Meghan, and their families and close friends.

There will be a celebration of Tony’s life at 6:30 PM on November 16th at Rice University’s Cohen House. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.