Vartan Gregorian Obituary: Vartan Gregorian, the chipper Armenian settler who moved to zeniths of scholarly and altruistic accomplishment yet took a diversion during the 1980s to reestablish a blurring New York Public Library to its place at the core of American scholarly life, passed on Thursday in Manhattan. He was 87.

The demise, at a clinic, was affirmed by his child Dareh Gregorian. No reason was given.

Dr. Gregorian got a kick out of the chance to recount the narrative of “the most agonizing experience of as long as I can remember.” It occurred in 1980, when he was executive of the University of Pennsylvania, its top scholarly authority. Incredible trustees revealed to him that he was an obvious choice to supplant the active president. He was so certain of the post that he pulled out his name from thought as chancellor of the University of California at Berkeley.

He heard the terrible news on his vehicle radio. The Penn trustees had picked another scholastic star. The following day, he surrendered. The active president attempted to deter him, however it was no utilization.