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William Charles Gruben III

1943 - 2020

William Charles Gruben III obituary, 1943-2020, Dallas, TX

William Gruben Obituary

GRUBEN III, William Charles William Charles Gruben III died peacefully at his Dallas home on Tuesday, March 17th, 2020, at the age of 76, due to complications from an inoperable glioblastoma. Husband, father, economist, polymath, polyglot, musician, humorist, prankster, Bill was a classical thinker, a Medieval scholastic, a Renaissance man, a modern theorist, a postmodern ironist, and, above all else, a true soul of The Enlightenment, in that his whole life was a determined, joyous pursuit of knowledge fueled by the power of human reason and an endless supply of jokes. Born on September 29th, 1943 in Sacramento, California, Bill was a conscientious and devoted older brother (one not above launching a younger sibling down the occasional laundry chute) during a childhood of multiple family moves: from Illinois to rural Texas, San Antonio, Houston (where he swam the bayous, alligators included) and suburban Dallas. He was an enthusiastic cadet in the Junior Yanks in the mid-50's, and spent a few weeks every summer at his grandparents' cotton farm in West Texas. As a high school student he mastered the guitar and the trombone, earning spending money gigging with a Dixieland band. Later in life, he learned to play a mean and somewhat soulful didgeridoo. A graduate of Richardson High School, SMU, and The University of Texas, where he earned a doctorate in economics, Bill's working life was a paradox. He spent the better part of his career at The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, where he specialized in practical applications of economic theory and the then emerging Mexican and Latin American markets, and where he co-created The Center for Latin American Economics. But Bill's relationship to "The Dismal Science" was anything but. He understood that at the root of economic study was both the human and the quite-possibly marvelous: that economies were more than diminishing marginal return curves and income elasticity, but places where our desires and dreams collide with reality in all kinds of fascinating and exhilarating ways. An inspiration to colleagues and mentees alike, Bill's favorite rejoinder while crunching data or preparing a paper or presentation was always, "Do you believe we get paid to do this?!" followed by another one of his brilliant one-liners. For, much as he found joy in Peso stabilization forecasts and comparative GDP analyses, Bill Gruben found hilarity in everything else. In the 1970s, he, along with his brother, wrote, produced, and hosted a 30 minute comedy show on KCHU called "Dallas Arcade." In the 80s, he published pieces in The Atlantic that satirized the excesses of oil-boom Texas. He wrote jokes for Joan Rivers, who used some on The Tonight Show, and for Phyllis Diller, who tried to persuade him to dump economics, move to Hollywood, and write comedy full time. Bill Gruben was too good an economist to take her suggestion. But he was terribly flattered. Upon his retirement from The Dallas Fed, Bill spent his time among homes in Dallas, Laredo, and Monterrey, Mexico. From 2008-2014, at Texas A&M International University, he was Director of the Ph.D. Program in International Business at the University's A.R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business, and a Radcliffe Killam Distinguished Professor of Economics; from 2013-14, he directed The Center for Western Hemispheric Trade. Upon his second retirement, Bill transferred his creative energies from the literary to the visual arts. His last series of canvasses depict the suffering of narcos tormented by comically enraged demons. And even this past January, when he struggled to walk and eat, he insisted on going to Fort Worth to see the Renoir show. He spent two hours on his feet looking at every painting. Bill is preceded in death by father WIlliam Charles Gruben II, mother Virginia Dorothy Anderson Gruben, and wife, the artist Marilu Flores Gruben. Bill is survived by beloved spouse Nieves Mogas, daughters Adrienne Gruben, a film executive and documentarian, and Anna Gruben Olivier de Vezin, a non-profit director, sons-in-law David Goldstein, a technical director for live broadcast events, and Charles Olivier de Vezin, a screenwriter and film editor, grandchildren Maria Francisca Goldstein and Manel Olivier de Vezin, sister Patricia Gruben, brother Roger Gruben, and a host of adoring nieces, nephews, and cousins. The family expresses its deep gratitude to caregivers Penelope Clayton-Smith, Dario Delgado, and Frank Aven. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, services are on hold, but there will be a virtual service in mid April. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes contributions in Bill's name to The Latin American and Caribbean Economic Association or to El Instituto de Atención Integral Discapacitado Retos, A.B.P.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Dallas Morning News on Mar. 29, 2020.

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Elsie Echeverri-Carroll

August 14, 2022

I met Bill at my first meeting of the Regional Science Association and we became good friends. He was funny as mentioned by other friends and was always happy to talk about her daughter's accomplishments. I enjoyed talking to him and will miss him dearly.

Mine Yucel

May 15, 2020

Bill was a great colleague and friend. What I remember best about Bill is his love of economics and his enthusiasm for research. He also was a treasure trove of historical Texas trivia, keeping us entertained as well as educated! We will miss you, Bill!

May 10, 2020

Rest in Peace Bill. ❤

Weston DeWalt

April 2, 2020

Bill was a friend for 58 years, my best friend. We shared an apartment in Dallas in 1963-64, when we were both attending SMU. Our adventures then and in the years following could fill the doorstop of a book. To say that he will be missed, is to not say nearly enough. One of a kind he was. For all who knew and loved him, I offer my condolences.

April 1, 2020

Dr. Gruben was one of my favorite professors at the University of Texas at Dallas where he taught International Economics. Most patient, he had the ability to make a potentially dull subject most interesting. Above all, he was kind and respectful,and I was so blessed to have him. We loved him!! Tom Keener

John Welch

March 31, 2020

Bill Gruben is one of the most special people I have ever met. I could write a book. One of the happiest days of my life was the day I interviewed at the Dallas-FRB, at his and Jerry O'Driscoll's invitation. I had met Bill two years before when he presented at the U of North Texas on the "overvalued Mexican Peso," which laid the seed of a lot of research collaboration thereafter. The interviews and seminar were fun but not easy, and I got to know the wonderful group of economists at FRB-Dallas, including Bill and many who have commented here. After all was done, Bill invited me to join some of the team for drinks and to follow him in his Volkswagen Thing. Huh?!? Yes, an orange Thing. Then he proceeded to weave in and out of traffic to the bar. Once relieved that I had survived the driving test, I broke into laughter for about 10 minutes before entering for drinks and the best part of my career. That was Bill. Thank you, Bill, for everything and I thank God everyday that I knew you. I love you. Rest in peace.

HAROLDLYN MURRAY

March 31, 2020

Bill was such a wonderful person. I enjoyed working with him.
We'll miss you Bill.

John Welch

March 31, 2020

Bill Gruben is one of the most special people I have ever met. I could write a book. One of the happiest days of my life was the day I interviewed at the Dallas-FRB, at his and Jerry O'Driscoll's invitation. I had met Bill two years before when he presented at the U of North Texas on the "overvalued Mexican Peso," which laid the seed of a lot of research collaboration thereafter. The interviews and seminar were fun but not easy, but I got to know the wonderful group of economists at FRB-Dallas, including Bill and those who have commented here. After all was done, Bill invited me to join some of the team for drinks and to follow him in his Volkswagen Thing. Huh?!? Yes, an orange Thing. Then he proceeded to weave in and out of traffic to the bar. Once relieved that I had survived the driving test, I broke into laughter for about 10 minutes before entering for drinks and the best part of my career. That was Bill. Thank Bill for everything and I thank God everyday that I new you. I love you. Rest in peace.

Bill Gilmer

March 31, 2020

I met Bill when I came to the Dallas Fed in 1989. Always fun to be around, always thinking, always practical in his goals. Always with a new idea on his plate. We shared an interest in the border and Mexico during my years in El Paso, and his deep knowledge and years of experience were invaluable while I tried to learned a new field. I missed him -- we all missed him -- after he left the bank, and we will all miss all the more now.

Elliitt

March 30, 2020

Bill worked with my Sweetheart, Kay, at the Fed. He and I went up to S&D Oyster Company to partake of the cole slaw on occasion and talk economics.

Niki Maas

March 30, 2020

Bill was a great person to work with at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. I truly enjoyed talking with him about his vast experiences and stories. The world has lost a spectacular man. He was kind and considerate and so funny!

Erwan Quintin

March 29, 2020

Bill was my boss at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and a wonderful boss and mentor he was. He did everything he could to help me and his other junior reports succeed without regard for his own interests. I enjoyed the wit and humor so well described in the obituary on a daily basis. He made coming to work a lot of fun.

First and foremost, Bill was a kind man in a business where the norms are anything but kind. I benefited from his kindness and guidance more than most and will be for ever grateful to him.

David Gould

March 29, 2020

Bill will be greatly missed. A true friend and colleague. He never seemed to age. When I met him in 1990, he was 50 and I was 28, although he had the curiosity and mischievousness of 20 year old. A kind soul and caring friend. Condolences to the community and family who have lost a husband, father, brother and friend. David Gould Sydney Australia

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