Professor Emeritus Igor Paul ’60, SM ’61, PhD ’64, an influential professor of mechanical engineering, died on December 17, 2023, at his home in St. Petersburg, Florida. He was 87.
Paul was a member of the MIT Mechanical Engineering Department from 1964 until his retirement in 2003 and helped develop a design and manufacturing curriculum that continues to thrive. His research interests include product and machine design; safety and risk analysis; robotics; biomechanics; and vigorous systems modeling.
A leading expert in product design and safety, with a focus on sports equipment such as helmets, Igor has served as an expert witness in numerous groundbreaking product liability cases. He has also contributed to the development of artificial joints and inertial guidance systems for NASA, and has provided consulting services to numerous area hospitals and medical centers.
Paul was known for his good nature, quick wit, and pleasant disposition, and his deep passion for teaching. Among the courses he taught over the years were 2.72 (Elements of Mechanical Design), 2.70 (now 2.007, Design and Manufacturing I), and 2.009 (Product Engineering Processes). For many years he served as the faculty advisor for the student chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
He is also the co-author of over 80 publications and the recipient of numerous awards in design, bioengineering, and education, including the DeFlorez Award for Creativity in Design (MIT, 1960), the Ralph R. Teetor Distinguished Educator Award (SAE), the Outstanding Orthopedic Research Award (Orthopedic Research Society), and the Carl Soderberg Distinguished Service Award (MIT, 2003).
Paul was born on October 28, 1936, in Kharkov, Ukraine. He migrated throughout Europe during World War II and arrived in the United States eight years later, on Christmas Day 1951. After entering MIT, he earned all three degrees from the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
He is survived by his wife, Natasha Paul (Gruzinov); a daughter, Tahisa Southwell of Las Vegas, Nevada; a son, Victor Paul of Zurich, Switzerland; and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Lily Paul; his sister, Nina Karouna; and his beloved daughter, Tanya Paul.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Paul enjoyed tennis, golf, and traveling the world. After retiring in 2003, he and Natasha moved from Andover, Massachusetts to Modern London, Modern Hampshire, and then recently settled in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Paul leaves behind a legacy of academic achievement, dedication to education, and love for his family.