Vartan Gregorian - Former Brown President, Global Force in Arts and Philanthropy - Dies
Saturday, April 17, 2021
Vartan Gregorian -- the former President of Brown University and global intellectual force who led the resurrection of the New York Public Library and headed one of the most important foundations in America -- has died.
His personality and influence dazzled Providence. He was friends with Vincent “Buddy” Cianci and top American executives. Gregorian was an intellectual tour de force.
"The ebullient Armenian immigrant who climbed to pinnacles of academic and philanthropic achievement but took a detour in the 1980s to restore a fading New York Public Library to its place at the heart of American intellectual life, died on Thursday in Manhattan. He was 87. The death, at a hospital, was confirmed by his son Dareh Gregorian. No cause was given,” writes the New York Times.
"Gregorian was a fighter: proud, shrewd, charming, a brilliant historian and educator who rose from humble origins to speak seven languages, win sheaves of honors and be offered the presidencies of Columbia University and the Universities of Michigan and Miami. He accepted the presidency of Brown University (1989-1997), transforming it into one of the Ivy League’s hottest schools, and since then had been president of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, a major benefactor of education,” the Times added.
In Providence, the Vartan Gregorian Elementary School was named in his honor and as a thank you for his contributions to Providence.
At the time of Cianci’s death in 2016, GoLocal spoke with Gregorian:
“He and I developed a strong relationship and it was based on two components - he would not surprise me and I would not ignore him,” Gregorian told GoLocal in an interview.
During the course of Gregorian and Cianci’s overlapping tenure in Providence, the city was transformed. The successes included the completion of the redevelopment of the rivers, creation of Waterplace Park, construction of the Convention Center, and Providence Place Mall.
Today, Gregorian is President of the Carnegie Foundation of New York. It is one of America's leading foundations and has provided grants of nearly $1.2 billion over the past decade.
Gregorian said that his first interaction with Cianci was on his radio show prior to Cianci returning as Mayor of Providence in 1991. “Staff told me not to go on the radio show. Cianci’s first question was, 'What has Brown done for Providence?” recalled Gregorian.
The then-new Brown President explained to Cianci that Brown did a lot for the city. “First, I answered that because the city doesn’t put up proper signs, Brown students and their parents pay nearly $640,000 in parking tickets. And the Brown cars are the most stolen and we provide a great supply to Providence’s chop-shops, making Providence number one in stolen cars in America," said Gregorian. "The response cemented our friendship."
“Cianci was a great dinner companion. He knew everything about everyone in Rhode Island,” said Gregorian.
During the course of the time in which Cianci reigned over Providence and Gregorian led Brown, Providence’s reputation transformed. “He made Providence’s culinary reputation and the city was able to compete with much bigger cities like Boston as a restaurant city,” said Gregorian.
"It was Cianci that brought the artists downtown and made it much safer. He brought Johnson and Wales downtown," said Gregorian rattling off Cianci's accomplishments.
“In many ways, Cianci was a tragic figure. The city was not big enough for him and how smart he was. He was both so good and so bad. There was one time he sent a Providence Police officer to drive to New York City to deliver to me his marinara sauce. Believe me, it was unsolicited and excessive,” said Gregorian.
Gregorian, who is globally recognized as a leader in philanthropy and higher education, has spent a career with world leaders and the greatest minds in education and business. Gregorian said to GoLocal that Cianci is clearly one of the 100 most interesting people" he had ever met.
“When he went to jail I wanted to send him flowers, but my wife (Claire) told me that don’t allow flowers in jail," said Gregorian.
Cianci named the Fox Point Elementary School in Gregorian’s honor - the school is now named the Vartan Gregorian Elementary School and is located on Wickenden Street.
"Cianci, he lived for Providence," said Gregorian.
