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Don Lavoie
Lev Vekker
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Obituaries
Public Policy Professor Don Lavoie, 50
Don Lavoie, the David H. and Charles G. Koch Chair of Economics in the School
of Public Policy, died of cancer on Nov. 6 at the age of 50. A member of George
Mason’s faculty since 1980, Lavoie enjoyed a reputation as one of the university’s
leading innovators in teaching methods, developing new ways to use software to
enhance the learning experience. He was a two-time recipient of Mason’s Distinguished
Faculty Award.
Kingsley Haynes, director of the School of Public Policy, praised Lavoie’s
contributions to the university. “Don was a gifted and passionate teacher
who was respected and admired by his students and colleagues,” he said. Lavoie’s
research focused on the use of knowledge in economics and organizational contexts.
He is best known as the author of two books published in 1985, Rivalry and
Central Planning and National Economic Planning: What Is Left? Lavoie’s
most recent work was Culture and Enterprise: The Development, Representation,
and Morality of Business.
Lavoie is survived by his wife, Mary, and their three children, John, 16; Mark,
14; and Gabriella, 8.
Krasnow Affiliate Lev Vekker, 83
Lev Vekker, 83, affiliate professor of psychology and faculty member at the
Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, died on Oct. 1. Associated with George Mason
since 1991, Vekker stayed active right up until his last days; shortly before
his death, he lectured at a conference in his native Russia.
Vekker received M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in psychology from the University of
Leningrad and was known as the “patriarch of Russian psychology” in
his home country, according to John Allen, associate professor of psychology,
who worked closely with Vekker at George Mason. Vekker held appointments at the
University of Leningrad, Leipzig University, and Vilnius Pedagogical College before
emigrating to the United States with his family in 1988 during the glasnost era.
He eventually became a U.S. citizen.
James Olds, director and CEO of Krasnow, says Vekker “was world famous
—one of the greatest psychologists of the 20th century.” Vekker published
more than 125 papers and five books during his lifetime; his most recent work
was on the role of touch in consciousness. He recorded recollections of his career
earlier this year as part of Fenwick Library’s Oral History Project, which
are available in Special Collections. Vekker is survived by a son, Boris, who
lives in Delaware.
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