David Gilbert Luenberger
Sept. 16, 1937-May 19, 2026
Stanford, California
David Luenberger, age 88, passed away peacefully on Tuesday morning, May 19, 2026, at his home at Stanford. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, professor, and friend.
David was born in Los Angeles on September 16, 1937, to Fred and Marion Luenberger. He grew up alongside his two younger sisters, Joanne and Linda.
After graduating from Dorsey High School in Los Angeles, David earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). He then pursued graduate studies at Stanford University, where he received both his Master of Science and a PhD in Electrical Engineering in 1963.
While at Stanford, David met his wife of 64 years, Nancy Iversen, during an "exchange" event between his dorm and the nursing students' dorm. They were married two years later. Together, David and Nancy built a beautiful family with four children: Susan, Robert, Jill, and Jenna. David was a deeply devoted father and grandfather to his ten grandchildren. He cherished family time and especially loved playing board games with his children and grandchildren.
David was a pillar of the Stanford University community, serving as a professor for 50 years. He taught and conducted groundbreaking research in control theory, optimization, economics, information science, and investment science. In 1967, David became one of the original founders of the Department of Engineering-Economic Systems, which he chaired for 11 years.
A few of his career highlights include the development of the Luenberger Observer in control theory. He authored 6 classic books: Optimization by Vector Space Methods, Introduction to Dynamic Systems, Microeconomic Theory, Information Science, Linear and Nonlinear Programming (with Yinyu Ye), and Investment Science. He won a number of awards including the Bode Lecture Prize of the Control Systems Society, the Oldenburger Medal of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and the Expository Writing Award of the Institute of Operations Research and Management Science. He served as Technical Assistant to the President's Science Advisor from 1971-1972. He was Guest Professor at the Technical University of Denmark, Visiting Professor at MIT, and Visiting Professor at IRIA in France. He was an Honorary Professor at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University from 2010 to 2013. David was a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and a Member of the National Academy of Engineering.
In addition to his academic accomplishments, David lived a rich life full of diverse hobbies. He was an accomplished magician and a member of the Magic Castle in Hollywood. He had a deep love for music, enjoying both listening to and playing jazz piano, dancing with Nancy, and expressing his creativity through writing short stories.
An avid lover of the outdoors, David skied at Lake Tahoe, body-surfed in the ocean, climbed Mount Whitney, and hiked Yosemite. He was also a prolific photographer and active member of the Palo Alto Camera Club, capturing beautiful pictures as he and Nancy traveled the world together.
David is survived by his wife, Nancy Luenberger, his four children: Susan Suarez (Carl) of Naples, FL, Robert Luenberger (Cindy) of Los Altos, CA, Jill Himes (Steve) of Chandler, AZ, Jenna MacRae (Ian) of San Diego, CA, ten grandchildren, his sisters Joanne Ruzek (Robin) and Linda Baker (Don) and many beloved nieces and nephews.