George Francis Shaskan Jr. ’39

George died Feb. 5, 2009, at his home in Chevy Chase, Md. He had been fighting a staph infection he contracted while in the hospital for successful hip surgery.  

After college, George was off and running. He worked in several government departments in Washington, D.C., graduated from the National Institute of Public Affairs in 1940, and earned a master’s degree in economics at American University in 1943.  

In 1943, he joined the Air Force’s statistical division. From 1944 to 1946 he was attached to the Office of Strategic Services and to the Joint Chiefs of Staff as a lieutenant junior grade. After military service, his entire career was in investment management. He entered the financial world in New York as a partner in Shaskan & Co. and then founded his own business in 1958. He later became a partner at Wertheim Schroder & Co. Active in civic and charitable work in New York and Westchester County, George became treasurer, a board member, and a trustee of the American Folk Art Museum.

George and Myra Hellman were married in 1941. She survives him, as do their daughters, Susan Luse and Carol Horn. Susan’s three children are Andrew ’02, Barbara ’04, and Jeffrey ’09. We offer our sincere sympathy on the loss of this devoted family man.