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In Memoriam: George Kaufman, PhD

In Memoriam photo for the late Professor George Kaufman

We mourn the passing of Professor Emeritus George Kaufman. He passed away on June 25, 2020, at his home in Chicago. 

He was a renowned economist, researcher for and consultant to the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, economist who served Presidents Gerald R. Ford and Jimmy Carter, and the John F. Smith Professor of Economics and Finance at Loyola University Chicago.

"He mentored and inspired both the leaders and the beginners in the profession; their admiration will provide a lasting legacy and testament to his research and teaching," said Harvey Rosenblum, professor of business and financial economics at the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University.

Read George Kaufman's full obituary →

A memorable retirement

When Kaufman retired from the Quinlan School of Business, Quinlan's Center for Financial and Policy Studies and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago sponsored a two-day conference featuring internationally recognized economists. They discussed developments in financial economics over the past 50 years and honored Kaufman's lifelong contributions. About the conference →

All the papers and commentaries were published in a hardcopy trade volume. called Public Policy & Financial Economics: Essays in Honor of Professor George G Kaufman for His Lifelong Contributions to the Profession.

At a retirement dinner held following the conference, banking leader Alex J. Pollock gave a speech about Kaufman and his contributions to the field entitled "57 Years of Banking Changes and Ideas." He ended his remarks: "Let us raise our glasses to George Kaufman and 57 years of achievement, acute insights, scholarly contributions, policy guidance and professional leadership, all accompanied by a lively wit. To George!" Read Pollock's entire speech→

Honoring his legacy

Kaufman donated his body to the study of Parkinson's disease through the Parkinson's Foundation. Memorials in his name may be made to his favorite charities: Doctors Without Borders and the Parkinson's Foundation.

His family and friends are in our thoughts and prayers.

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