In Remembrance of Professors Fran and Ken Bailie

On September 1, 2021, two beloved Iona University professors were lost in the devastating effects of Hurricane Ida. Fran and Ken Bailie, professors of Computer Science, will forever be remembered for the dedication, enthusiasm and commitment they showed in their classrooms and throughout the College. Their zeal for teaching and passion for helping students excel inside and outside of the classroom has left an indelible mark on all who came in contact with them.

As chair of the Computer Science Department, Professor Fran Bailie, Ph.D., was instrumental in crafting a dynamic array of programs that stayed current with the changing dimensions of computer science. This included making Game Development and Cyber Security – two highly in demand fields – available as concentrations as well as helping spearhead the new interdisciplinary minor in Data Science. Throughout all of her work, she was especially proud of making sure her faculty remained student-oriented and always made time to work one-on-one with students.

In addition to her many contributions to the Computer Science department, throughout her career Dr. Bailie found ways to help Iona students campus wide. This included serving as director of the Honors Program, a member of the Core Curriculum Committee and helping to pilot learning communities. When she served as advising director, she took special care to make sure that all incoming freshmen were set up with a schedule tailored for success.

In 2012, Dr. Bailie was a Woman of Achievement awardee, thus solidifying her position as a role model for all who followed her. She cared deeply about her colleagues, especially the female faculty who came up behind her, and never forgot what it was like for her as a working mother. Her strong support for women in tech culminated in an article published in 2015 titled “Women Who Make a Difference: Role Models for the 21st Century”.

A deeply spiritual person, Dr. Bailie was centered around service to others. In an interview for the College she noted that “People don't think of computer science as being a service-oriented discipline, but really it is. We do things to help everyone. It is wonderful to see our students enter [various] fields…to not only help themselves to a wonderful career, but to help other people as well and society as a whole.”

Ken Bailie began his professional career teaching mathematics at Ladycliff College in Highland Falls, New York. After three years of teaching, he was hired by IBM as a programmer and went on to have a very successful forty-year career there in various technical, management, and business positions. Upon retiring as an executive from IBM, Ken followed his beloved wife into the classroom to teach Computer Science as an adjunct professor at Iona. Like his wife, he loved being in the classroom and sharing his experience with his students. Both Ken and Dr. Bailie helped many Iona students find internships and permanent employment at IBM through their connections there.

The following services are being offered on the College campus in remembrance of Fran and Ken Bailie. More information on services will be made available with respect to the Bailie Family’s wishes.

Prayer Vigil, September 3 at 1 p.m.

Please join us at the Blessed Edmund Rice Chapel for a prayer vigil led by Brother Kevin Devlin to pray for Ken, Fran and the Bailie family.

Dedicated Mass at Holy Family Church, September 5

The 6 p.m. mass at Holy Family Church located on 83 Clove Road, New Rochelle, NY 10801 will be dedicated to the Bailie Family.

Quiet Reflective Hour, September 7

As the Iona University community reflects on the lasting legacies of Professors Ken and Fran Bailie, all are invited to join in prayer.

On what would have been the couple's 53rd wedding anniversary, Tuesday, September 7, Father Gerard Mulvey will host a quiet reflective hour at noon in Burke Lounge in Spellman Hall. This will be open to all students, faculty and staff as we continue to pray for the Bailie family.