John Edward Van Tassel, 85, of Natick, formerly of Milton, died May 8 after a lengthy illness.

An Army veteran, he was a professor of management at Boston College for 48 years.

Mr. Van Tassel, a “Triple Eagle,” graduated from Boston College High School and Boston College before receiving graduate degrees from BC in 1953 and Harvard University in 1957.

As technology evolved, he was instrumental in the installation of computers at a number of educational institutions, including BC. In the 1960s, he developed a “Management Decision-Making Exercise” simulation for management training that is still in use today.

His interests included model railroading, railroad history, music, computers and electronics, demographics and maps, and playing cribbage and bridge. He was a life member of the National Model Railroad Society.

He is survived by his wife, Joan M. (Barrett) Van Tassel; and his sister, Barbara Enagonio, of Maryland.

He was the son of the late John E. Van Tassel and Elisabeth (Lusteck) Van Tassel, and brother of the late Elisabeth Van Tassel.

A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated in St. Elizabeth Church on May 13. Burial was May 18 in Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne.