John T. Dunlop, a preeminent labor economist who served as U.S. secretary of Labor under President Gerald Ford and as dean of the Faculty from 1969-73, died last Thursday morning. He was 89.

During a lifelong career in dispute resolution Dunlop juggled responsibilities in government, academia and the private sector.

“As a teacher, he helped develop generations of labor economists. As a scholar, he was a leading figure in furthering our understanding of labor markets and institutions. As a practitioner, he played an indispensable role in finding common ground between labor unions, employers, and government,” former University President Derek Bok told the Harvard Gazette.

Because of his versatility and his ability as a problem solver, Dunlop was called on again and again by his country, by the University and by both sides of the labor movement to smooth the way toward practical solutions.

“He could talk in the language of labor leaders and also in the language of Harvard professors,” Bok said.

In Cambridge

The Lamont University Professor Emeritus, Dunlop served as dean of the Faculty from 1969 to 1973.

The period was a tumultuous one, characterized by residual student unrest on the campus following the student takeover of University Hall in 1969.

“He was an absolutely pivotal figure during all the trouble in the late 60s and early 70s,” Dunlop’s successor as Dean of the Faculty Henry Rosovsky said. “He was one of the people who kept the university together.”

Bok concurred that Dunlop went above and beyond the call of duty in aiding Harvard in its time of need.

“His talents happened to be available to Harvard at a period of maximum need. It was a period of great demoralization among the faculty and anger among the students,” said Bok, who was dean of the Law School at the time. “John was quite upset about the way the faculty was behaving. I remember him saying to me once in the Faculty Club, ‘Either I’m going to leave this place or I’m going to…try and straighten it out.’”

Those who worked with him said he did so—and his administrative legacy was shaped accordingly.

“John Dunlop led this Faculty, and served this University, in more ways, and with more distinction, than can ordinarily be accorded one human being,” Dean of the Faculty William C. Kirby wrote in an e-mail. “He scrutinized the University’s structures of governance, and its fundamental purposes, during a period of serious institutional reformulation.”

Taking the helm of the college at such a troubled time was a selfless gesture on Dunlop’s part, Bok said, as he was not fond of administrative duties.

“He gave up two years of his life to helping Harvard through that time,” Bok said.