Dimitri Bertsekas, renowned computer scientist and author, passes away at 83
Dimitri Bertsekas, a prominent figure in computer science and engineering, died at the age of 83. His extensive research and authorship significantly influenced fields such as optimization and artificial intelligence, leaving a lasting legacy through his numerous publications and mentorship of students.
Dimitri Bertsekas, a professor emeritus at Arizona State University, passed away on June 3 at his home in Belmont, Massachusetts, at the age of 83.
He was known for his influential work in optimization, control, large-scale computation, reinforcement learning, and artificial intelligence, authoring over 20 significant books and textbooks.
Bertsekas earned his undergraduate degree from the National Technical University of Athens, followed by an MS from George Washington University and a PhD from MIT. He held faculty positions at Stanford University, the University of Illinois, and MIT before joining Arizona State University in 2019.
His teaching and mentorship impacted many students, including notable figures in the field, who credit him for shaping their academic and professional paths.
Bertsekas received numerous awards throughout his career, including the INFORMS Prize for Research Excellence and the IEEE Control Systems Award. He was elected to the U.S. National Academy of Engineering for his contributions to optimization and control theory.
He is survived by his wife, Joanna, his son Telis, and three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son Costas.