Daniel Bell, social scientist, 91
Was one of America’s most dynamic thinkers
Daniel Bell, the Henry Ford II Professor of Social Sciences Emeritus at Harvard University and one of America’s most dynamic thinkers, died on Jan. 25. He was 91.
Born in 1919 in New York City, Bell graduated from the City College of New York with a bachelor’s degree in science and social science in 1938, and studied at Columbia University from 1938 to 1939. His career began with journalism — Bell served as managing editor of The New Leader, then as labor editor of Fortune, and finally co-editor of The Public Interest.
He taught at the University of Chicago and Columbia before joining the Harvard faculty. He retired in 1990.
His most famous books include “The End of Ideology,” “The Coming of Post-Industrial Society,” and “The Cultural Contradictions of Capitalism” — the first and latter books were listed by the Times Literary Supplement as among the 100 most important books in the second half of the 20th century.
Bell leaves behind his wife, Pearl; a daughter, Jody; a son, David; and four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. The funeral will be private.
A memorial service for Daniel Bell will take place on April 15 at 1:00 p.m. in Harvard’s Memorial Church.