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In Memoriam: Allen Van Gelder

Remembering Professor of Computer Science and Engineering Allen Van Gelder

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Allen Van Gelder smiles while writing on a chalk board

Allen Van Gelder

Photo courtesy of Darrell Long

Allen Van Gelder, University of California, Santa Cruz professor of computer science and engineering, passed away on April 25, 2025. He will be remembered for his intellect, dry wit, kindness, and humanity, as well as his mentorship and dedication to his students. 

Born in 1939, Van Gelder was from Long Island, New York. He received a B.S. in mathematics from MIT, and then spent years in the programming industry before completing a Ph.D. in computer science from Stanford University. 

He joined UC Santa Cruz in 1987, teaching generations of students at the Baskin School of Engineering as computer science rose to become a ubiquitous field. In those days, he drove the windy roads of campus in a Volkswagen bug. 

He had far ranging interests in computer science and engineering, including his earlier work in logic programming, and his subsequent work in graphics and visualization. From his time in graduate school through the later years of his career, he worked on satisfiability algorithms and became a prominent member of that research community. An early contributor to the field of artificial intelligence, he received a National Science Foundation Presidential Young Investigator Award in 1989 to investigate the use of logic programming for problems in database and artificial intelligence systems. 

He published more than 80 research papers over his career, and was focused on both formal theory and rigorous experimentation. His colleague, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Computer Science and Engineering Phokion Kolaitis, noted that while attending a conference on satisfiability, Van Gelder’s name was often mentioned alongside Don Knuth’s, who is known as one of the founders of computer science, bringing Kolaitis a sense of pride in the influence of UC Santa Cruz in the field. Upon learning of Van Gelder’s passing, a senior member of the satisfiability research community commented that “few had a sharper mind than Allen’s.”

Portrait of Allen Van Gelder

Van Gelder collaborated extensively with his life partner, the late Jane Wilhelms, who was also a professor of computer science at UC Santa Cruz, contributing influential research within graphics and visualization. Together, they combined Wilhelms’ expertise in zoology with Van Gelder’s in mathematics to produce early and influential work on the animation of animals using the relatively limited technology of the ’90s and early 2000s. 

Van Gelder is remembered for his dedication to his students, which often meant spending long hours on campus, helping with study sections that are typically led by teaching assistants and going the extra mile to ensure students grasped the material. Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Computer Science and Engineering Darell Long remembers his extraordinary focus on his students’ success.

“He was there every day — I would come in, and there was Allen,” Long said. “He was there for the undergrads. It was really impressive to see someone of his age so dedicated to his students. He made them want to step up and study hard.”

A former student, Kun Qian (‘17, Computer Science Ph.D.), who was also a teaching assistant for two of his classes, remembers Van Gelder’s mentorship and support during his time on campus. 

“Professor Van Gelder was one of the first professors I got to know when I came to the U.S., and CS101 was actually the first course I took here. I also had the chance to TA for him twice, and he was always so kind, patient, and supportive. He taught me how to work with undergrad students in lab courses—how to really listen, be encouraging, and make the material approachable. I learned a lot from him, not just about teaching, but about how to be a better mentor and person. I’ll always be grateful for that.”

Van Gelder had a reputation for being extremely resourceful, continuing to preserve and make productive use of technology after it had faded from popularity, a somewhat untraditional trait in a culture more accustomed to throwing things away.

Van Gelder was also passionate about the dangers of global warming and its effect on planetary health and society. Sadly, he lost his own home in the 2020 CZU fire. 

For support with this difficult news, UC Santa Cruz students can reach out either to Counseling and Psychological Services or Slug Support. For faculty and staff, the Employee Assistance Program offers counseling and other support.

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Last modified: May 22, 2025