Announcement of the Passing: Charles "Chuck" Bonini
Charles Pius "Chuck" Bonini, a renowned figure in the field of decision sciences, passed away on June 6, 2025, at the age of 82. Bonini, who dedicated over four decades of his life to the Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB), was remembered for his academic contributions, personal qualities, and dedication to teaching and public service.
Born in 1933, Bonini served as a faculty member at Stanford GSB, where he made significant strides in the realm of decision sciences. He held the prestigious William R. Timken Professorship of Management Science and taught across various programmes, including MBA, PhD, MSx, and Executive Education.
One of Bonini's most notable achievements was co-authoring the influential textbook Quantitative Analysis for Management. His research focused on the application of quantitative and statistical techniques to decision-making, a field in which he made substantial contributions. Bonini is also known for Bonini's paradox, an observation in complex systems that as a model becomes more complete, it becomes less understandable.
In addition to his academic accomplishments, Bonini was a cherished husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He shared his life with his wife, Barbara, for 47 years, and is survived by his children, stepdaughter, and grandchildren. Chuck was a man of many interests outside of academia, enjoying travel, time in Ashland and Lake Tahoe, Stanford basketball and football games, line dancing, and spending time with his family and friends.
To honour Bonini's life and legacy, a memorial celebration is being held in early August. For inquiries about the memorial, please email [email protected]. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the Charles P. Bonini Partnership for Diversity Fellowship Program at Stanford GSB, a programme Bonini established to support students from underrepresented backgrounds.
Chuck will be deeply missed by all who knew him. He was a man of incredible kindness, humility, and ability to connect with people across generations and disciplines. His impact on the field of decision sciences, as well as on the lives of his students and colleagues, will continue to be felt for years to come.
[1] Stanford Graduate School of Business. (n.d.). Charles P. Bonini. Retrieved from https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/faculty/charles-p-bonini
[2] Stanford News. (2021, February 22). Chuck Bonini, renowned decision scientist and longtime Stanford GSB faculty member, dies at 82. Retrieved from https://news.stanford.edu/2021/02/22/chuck-bonini-renowned-decision-scientist-and-longtime-stanford-gsb-faculty-member-dies-82/
- The Charles P. Bonini Partnership for Diversity Fellowship Program at Stanford Graduate School of Business was established by Bonini to support students from underrepresented backgrounds.
- Bonini's academic contributions extended beyond decision sciences, as he taught across various programs, including MBA, PhD, MSx, and Executive Education.
- In the realm of technology, Bonini's paradox, an observation in complex systems, is still discussed today.
- For those seeking personal growth and career development, skills training could benefit from understanding Bonini's theories in data-and-cloud computing and business.
- Leadership, diversity-and-inclusion, education-and-self-development, and technology are all areas that might have seen Bonini's influence through his dedication to teaching, public service, and academic research.