JOEL MOSES

1941 - 2022

MOSES, Joel An innovative computer scientist and dedicated teacher at MIT Prof. Joel Moses, 80, died peacefully in Dedham on May 29, 2022 after a long illness with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Born in Israel in 1941 to Bernhard and Golda Moses, the family came to the United States in 1954. Joel was 12. Moses was a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) where his work spanned a half century. He held the positions of head of the Engineering Systems Division, associate department head EECS, department head EECS, dean of engineering, and provost. In 1999 MIT recognized him as an Institute Professor for his many years of leadership at MIT and the development of the computer algebra program MACSYMA. Prof. Moses had a keen interest and ability in mathematics at an early age. He was awarded a scholarship to Columbia University where he received a Bachelor and Master of Arts in mathematics in 1962 and1963. At that time computer science was a fledgling field. It was Joel's admiration for Dr. Marvin Minsky, a pioneer in computer science and Artificial Intelligence, which led Prof. Moses to pursue a PhD in Mathematics at MIT. He completed his PhD with thesis "Symbolic Integration" in 1967. Prof. Moses then started his career as an assistant professor at MIT. Prof. Moses immediately joined MIT's Project MAC where he began a collaborative research and development program (1968-83) with MIT colleague, Prof. William Martin. The result was MACSYMA, one of the oldest general purpose computer algebra systems still in use today. MACSYMA is a computer system that enables computers to carry out exact differential and integration of complex expressions as well as symbolic solutions of equations. Prof. Moses had a deep commitment to MIT, bringing new and challenging ideas forward and helping to advance faculty members in their careers. He was instrumental in creating the Systems Design and Management graduate program and encouraging distance learning at MIT. "Our community will ever be grateful to Joel for his vision, dedication, and citizenship, and I will be forever be grateful for his brilliant mind and his wonderful heart," MIT President Rafael L. Reif wrote in a letter to the MIT community. Joel will always be remembered for his love of storytelling and the humor that he injected into each day. He had a deep interest in the study of Torah, Talmud and Jewish prayer. He enjoyed vacations with his family to cities in the United States. He was a loving husband of 51 years to Peggy Moses, father to sons David Moses and Jesse Moses, and brother to Abraham Moses. For gifts in memory of Joel Moses go to stanetskybrookline.com Stanetsky Memorial Chapel 1668 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA www.stanetskybrookline.com