Henry Rosovsky
On November 11, 2022, Henry Rosovsky, Dean Emeritus of the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences and Lewis P. and Linda L. Geyser University Professor Emeritus, died at his home in Cambridge, Massachusetts at the age of 95. Henry was known for his work in economics, his legacy as innovative administrator, and his impact as a lifelong educator at Harvard. His sharp intellect, dry humor, and immense spirit defined his character throughout his life. Henry was remarkably generous with his time and mentorship, imparting congenial wisdom to his friends, family, and colleagues.
Henry was born in Danzig in 1927 to Selig and Sonia Rosovsky. Due to the rise of Nazism, he moved with his parents and brother to Brussels, then fled through France as the German army entered Belgium. They reached the United States in December 1940, helped by luck, bravery, and the generosity of strangers and friends alike. These experiences left him a critic of the injustices experienced by many people throughout the world and committed to repairing them wherever he could.
Henry graduated from William and Mary College in 1949 and then became a graduate student at Harvard. He began his teaching career at the University of California at Berkeley. He moved to Harvard in 1966, where he served as chair of the Economics Department, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Acting President of Harvard University, and sat on the Harvard Corporation. His many professional contributions included recommending the establishment of an Afro-American studies concentration at Harvard, developing the nation’s first undergraduate Core Curriculum, and leading professional development for educational administrators. Henry was also a beloved mentor and friend to his colleagues and former students, who fondly recall many vigorous lunches spent at Legal Seafoods. In particular, he took tremendous pride in the accomplishments and successes of all his former students.
His stellar academic career was interspersed with military service. Henry volunteered for the Army in World War II, including service in France and attendance at the Nuremberg trials. He served in South Korea from 1950-1952, receiving a Purple Heart for his feet, which were frozen in the retreat from the Yalu River. He was then sent to a listening station in Northern Japan, where he grew interested in the Meiji Restoration and Japanese economic history. This exemplifies the intellectual curiosity Henry brought to every situation, constantly inquisitive about the world around him.
Henry wrote several books including Capital Formation in Japan, in which he describes how Japan rapidly transformed from a feudal society to a world power, and The University: An Owner’s Manual, an examination of higher education’s purpose and structure. In addition, Rosovsky is the author of Quantitative Japanese Economic History and, with K. Ohkawa, Japanese Economic Growth. He also edited many works on Japanese and Asian economic development.
Henry received many achievement awards and over 25 honorary degrees, and was a member of numerous professional associations, advisory boards, and corporate boards. He taught as a visiting professor in Japan and Israel and has worked variously as a consultant with the United States government, the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, and UNESCO.
Henry Rosovsky is survived by his wife of 66 years, Nitza Rosovsky; his three children Leah, Judy and Michael Rosovsky and their spouses, Jay Liebowitz, Kristen Mullins and Rachel Greenberger Rosovsky. He will be missed by his grandchildren, Benjamin McIntosh (Emma Labrot McIntosh), Sarah McIntosh, Abigail Rosovsky, and Ella Rosovsky, and his great-granddaughter Delilah McIntosh.
Services will be held at Temple Israel, 477 Longwood Ave, Boston, on November 16, 2022 at 10 AM. Interment to follow at Newton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Checks made out to the President and Fellows of Harvard College may be mailed to Harvard University, PO Box 419209, Boston, MA 02241-9209 or donations may be made online at https://alumni.harvard.edu/giving/givenow. Please include a note that the gift is in memory of Henry Rosovsky for the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.