Obituary for
Vincent A. Fulmer
Vincent A. Fulmer
Arlington Massachusetts Resident
Vincent Fulmer, longtime beloved Arlington resident died May 21, 2018, at home surrounded by family and friends following a severe stroke. He was 90 years old. His death saddened many in New England and across the country who have been touched by Vincent’s intelligence, caring and generous disposition.
Vincent lived his entire life true to his strong Christian values. His faith confidently embraced the promise of life hereafter and a strong, all-knowing merciful God. He was a zealous disciple of the Ten Commandments. With him, morality was neither a theoretical concept nor a subject to be modified by circumstance.
Vincent came from a small, devout Catholic family; born in 1927 in Alliance Ohio. He carried the theme into his own family of six children. In every area of his life, he set a powerful example with kindness, consideration, forgiveness, intelligence, patience, generosity and love. He always worked to solve the world’s problems and talked about how much unfinished business exists.
He married the former Alma Pineau of Woburn Massachusetts, and was her devoted companion for more than 67 years. He is survived by his sister, his brother, six children, nieces and nephews, many grand and great-grandchildren.
Service has been the principle focus of Vincent Fulmer’s life. He served as a naval ordnance man during World War II. He received his A.B degree cum laude from Miami University in 1949, and a Ph.D. from M.I.T. in 1952. He later received an S.M. degree in economics and finance from M.I.T. in 1963, an LL.D degree (Honorary) from Suffolk University in 1971 and an D.Sc. degree (Honorary) from Florida Institute of Technology in 1982.
His professional time at MIT began with a position as Teaching Assistant in 1951 in the Department of Economics. In 1952, he taught at Williams College and then returned to M.I.T. as Assistant to the Director of the Sloan Fellowship Program. He assumed administrative duties in the Executive Development Program in the M.I.T. School of Industrial Management in 1953, becoming Director in 1958. From 1960 to 1963 he served as Executive Assistant to the Chairman of the M.I.T. Corporation during the Institute’s fund raising efforts, and in1963, he was appointed Vice President and Secretary of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the youngest person to ever be appointed to a Vice Presidency at the Institute. In 1979, he was elected the eighth Secretary of the M.I.T. Corporation. His 25-year association with the Institute’s governing body involved more than 100 Corporation meetings, more than 400 Visiting Committee meetings, and more than 100 building dedications, presidential inaugurations and Institute convocations.
Public service activities included memberships and directorships on the Boards of Trustees of M.I.T., Hawthorne College and Suffolk University (Chairman and Director) where he served for many years. He was named President of Hawthorne College in 1986. He had memberships on various committees, including the Museum School of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and the Board of Directors of the Planning Office for Urban Affairs of the Archdiocese of Boston.
His interests in fostering the growth of technology-based companies included directorships of the Questar Corporation, manufacturer of precision optical telescopes, Moleculon Research Corporation, a polymer research company, Polyform Corporation, a custom molded plastics company, Dia-com, a designer and manufacturer of polymeric diaphragms, ControlAir, a precision and pneumatic controls company; many other firms including Barbour-Stockwell Inc., Termiflex Corporation, Aerodyne Corporation, and Fiberspar Corporation. In total, he has served on boards of more than 35 entities. He had a longstanding relationship with the M.I.T. Enterprise Forum and made numerous contributions to an entrepreneurial world.
Professional affiliations include the American Economics Association, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Operations Research Society of America, among others.
A memorial mass will be celebrated at St. Barbara Parish Church in Woburn, Massachusetts on Wednesday May 23, 2018 at 10 am. Memorial donations in lieu of flowers can be made to M.I.T. or to any university or educational institution.
