NEW YORK — George Randolph Hearst Jr., chairman of the board of Hearst Corp., died Monday at the Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto, Calif., of complications following a stroke. He was 84.

The oldest grandson of the late William Randolph Hearst, George Hearst Jr. had been deeply involved with the activities of Hearst Corp. since 1948. He served as a director for more than 53 years and as a trustee of the trust established under the will of William Randolph Hearst. He also was president of The Hearst Foundation and a director of the William Randolph Hearst Foundation.

“George was an enthusiastic supporter of the corporation’s growth and diversification strategies,” said Frank A. Bennack, Jr., executive vice chairman and chief executive officer of Hearst Corporation. “As chairman of the board, he brought his vast experience and wisdom to bear during a time of incredible growth and helped guide us through periods of enormous change. Although always calling every situation as he saw it, George was the most supportive and steadfast chairman a CEO could possibly have. He will be greatly missed by everyone who had the pleasure of working with him.”

Born in San Francisco on July 13, 1927, to George R. Hearst, Sr., and Blanche Wilbur, George Hearst, Jr., had a sincere appreciation for both his family and what the family name represented.

He began his career in private business and joined the staff of the Los Angeles Examiner in 1948. Hearst then moved to the staff of the San Francisco Examiner for two years and joined the Los Angeles Evening Herald Express where he was named business manager in 1957. By 1958, he was a vice president of Hearst Publishing Co. Inc., a director of Hearst Corp. and a trustee of The Hearst Foundation.

After serving as vice president of Hearst Corp. and managing its extensive real estate holdings, he succeeded his uncle, Randolph Hearst, as chairman of the board in 1996 and served in that capacity until his death.

Hearst also spent nearly 10 years in the military, first enlisting during World War II and serving in the Naval Air Corps, and then serving in the Army during the Korean War, including service as a combat helicopter pilot.