Stan Zdonik passed away peacefully on February 5, 2026, at the age of 78. He joined Brown University’s Department of Computer Science in 1983 and remained there for more than four decades, retiring in 2025. Stan was a pioneering computer scientist whose work helped shape modern data management, with foundational contributions to object-oriented databases, stream processing, and column-store systems. His research influenced both academic scholarship and industrial practice, including through systems and companies such as StreamBase and Vertica.
Stan was also a beloved teacher, mentor, colleague, friend, and community builder. Generations of students and researchers benefited from his intellectual generosity, curiosity, humor, and deep commitment to helping others grow. Beyond computing, Stan was a prominent figure in the bluegrass music community, a fountain pen collector, and a person whose wide-ranging interests brought people together across many communities. Above all, he is survived by his wife Gail; by his son David; and by his family, who were at the center of his life.
Below, we've invited Stan's colleagues and friends to share their memories, stories, photos, and other materials. To send us yours, please go here.
"Stan was an incredibly positive force in my life. He was there in the formative years of my career, when I needed guidance, encouragement, and a sense of possibility. He helped me build students, projects, collaborations, and confidence. He showed me what it means to be generous with one’s time and spirit. I am deeply grateful for his mentorship and friendship, and I know many others feel the same." – Ugur Cetintemel
