Charles Edward Lindblom

1917 - 2018

CHARLES EDWARD LINDBLOM Charles Edward Lindblom (March 21, 1917 - January 30, 2018), Sterling professor emeritus of economics and political science at Yale University (1949 - 1987), past President of the American Political Science Association (1981), and former Director of Yale's Institute for Policy Studies (1974-81), died at home in Santa Fe at age 100. He moved to Santa Fe in 2002. Throughout his career Lindblom pursued the troubled attempt of scholars, political leaders and ordinary citizens to understand the social world well enough to shape it. He was one of the early developers and advocates of the theory of policy and decision-making. From 1963-65 Lindblom served in India with the U.S. Agency for International Development, playing a part in India's agricultural Green Revolution. His theory of incrementalism, introduced in his seminal paper, "The Science of Muddling Through" (1959), demonstrated the superiority in many circumstances of social organization and decision making through mutual adjustment among many participants, and became one of the most frequently cited publications in political science literature. Lindblom was predeceased by his wife Rose Winther Lindblom in 2003 and, in 2014, by his special friend of a decade, Bebe Krimmer. He is survived by his daughter Susan and Daniel Friedman of Santa Fe (505) 988-2642; son Steven Lindblom and True Kelley of Warner, New Hampshire; and son Eric Lindblom and Kate Bauer of Takoma Park, Maryland; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. An open house will be held on Sunday, February 18th from 3-6 PM at 3940 Old Santa Fe Trail. Instead of flowers, donations may be made to Kitchen Angels.The family is deeply grateful for Elite Home Care and Ambercare Hospice's loving attentions this past year.