Gerard Piel, 89, the former publisher of Scientific American magazine who oversaw a dramatic upswing in the periodical's fortunes, died Sunday at a hospital in Queens, N.Y., of complications from a stroke, his family said.
Piel and several associates bought Scientific American in 1947 during a lull in its popularity.
He oversaw several years of reforms, including having scientists write articles about their research.
Circulation topped 1 million by the 1980s, and Piel became the magazine's chairman in 1984. The magazine was sold in 1986.
