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Professor Jozef Gruska (1933–2025) was one of the founders of modern programming in our country. He contributed to the creation of the first textbooks and curricula. During his career, he worked at universities around the world, organized important conferences, and led a doctoral program at the Faculty of Informatics at Masaryk University. He received numerous medals and awards from Czech, Slovak, and international institutions for his work. His legacy remains closely linked to the development of theoretical computer science, quantum information processing, and the education of future generations of scientists. A long-time professor at Masaryk University, he died on December 14 at the age of 92.

"He was associated with our faculty since its founding in 1994. His contribution to the development of computer science extended far beyond the borders of our country. He was a respected authority in Europe, North America, and Asia, thanks in part to a number of long-term stays at local universities. He also contributed to the development of activities related to quantum information processing, which is receiving unprecedented attention today," recalls Jiří Barnat, dean of the Faculty of Informatics at Masaryk University.

Prof. Gruska was born in 1933 and shortly after graduating from university became a digital computer programmer. This marked the beginning of his long journey through the world of computer technology, information science, and informatization in our country. He shared his knowledge and passion for science and education at universities around the world. He participated in the creation of innovative curricula and the first programming textbooks for secondary schools. For his significant contributions to the field of informatics, he was awarded the prestigious "Computer Pioneer Award" in 1996 by the IEEE Computer Society, one of the most important informatics associations in the world. 

He never forgot to support his local community. For 35 years, he led the team that organized the ALA (Algorithms, Languages, and Automata) research seminar in Bratislava. 

For his pedagogical and scientific contributions, Professor Jozef Gruska received several significant awards, including a first-class medal from the Ministry of Education of the Czech Republic (1998), gold medals from Masaryk University (1997), and silver medals from the Slovak Academy of Sciences (1997) and Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice (2003). In addition, he received a gold medal from the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics, and Informatics at Comenius University in Bratislava (2003) and the Bolzano Medal for his contribution to mathematical sciences from the Czech Academy of Sciences (2004). He was also awarded the Slovak Literary Agency Prize (1998) for his publications and twice the Rector's Prize of Masaryk University (1990, 2000) for his outstanding scientific achievements.

Professor Gruska has spent his entire career at leading academic institutions in Europe, North America, and Asia. He has lectured at more than 300 conferences, workshops, summer schools, and seminars at more than 100 institutions around the world. He is the author of more than 140 scientific papers, books, anthologies, and lectures, the most significant of which was his contribution to research on the complexity of systolic automata.

In addition to his own scientific work, Professor Gruska has been involved in the organisation of four international conferences: MFCS (Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science, 1973), SOFSEM Software Seminar, 1974), LATIN (Latin America Theoretical Informatics, 1992, in South America) and AQIS (Asia Quantum Information Science, 2001, Japan). He was also active in leading international organizations in the field of (theoretical) computer science. He was the founding chair of the IFIP Specialist Group on the Foundations of Computer Science (1989–1996) and founder of the IFIP TC1 technical committees. He was also a member of the EATCS (European Association of Theoretical Computer Science) Council (1985–1991) and a member of the Academia Europaea. 

For many years, he led a doctoral program at the Faculty of Informatics at Masaryk University and was responsible for projects in the field of quantum information processing. From 1997 until recently, he organized regular informatics colloquiums there, thanks in part to his extensive network of professional contacts. In 1998, the FI MU hosted probably the largest international conference ever held in theoretical computer science, which professor Gurska organized. He actively lectured until the age of 90, when he was appointed professor emeritus at Masaryk University. He was also a passionate collector, as documented in the photo gallery of his collections. 

Professor Jiří Zlatuška, colleague and former dean of FI MU, shares his personal memories: “Professor Gruska was a figure who made a significant contribution to the development of computer science in Czechoslovakia and maintained professional contacts around the world at a time when this was not at all easy. Over the course of several decades of domestic Sofsem conferences and international MFCS conferences, contacts were formed that included an unusually large number of experts who had otherwise been sidelined by the regime (including several signatories of Charter 77). After November 1989, many of them went on to hold top positions in constitutional institutions. The group behind the establishment of the Faculty of Informatics at Masaryk University, where he also worked since its foundation, also owed much to the professional background that was created in our country as a result. He managed to leave a significant mark on the formation of activities around quantum computers in Japan and Southeast Asia and at the Academia Europeana. With his passing, the last living recipient of the Computer Pioneer award for the Czech Republic is gone.” 

Professor Josef Gruska passed away on December 14, 2025, at the age of 92. May his memory be honored.

Author: Marta Vrlová, Office for External Relations and Partnerships at FI MU

Photo: Martin Indruch and Prof. Gruska's archive