Longtime professor Harry Shaffer dies

Harry G. Shaffer, former author and economics professor at the University of Kansas, died Nov. 3. Shaffer taught at the University of Kansas for 53 years. He began teaching in 1956.

Harry G. Shaffer, former author and economics professor at the University of Kansas, died Nov. 3. Shaffer taught at the University of Kansas for 53 years. He began teaching in 1956.

Video

Harry Shaffer reading student evaluations

The former professor shares some of his favorite course evaluations from past years.

The former professor shares some of his favorite course evaluations from past years.

Video

Harry Shaffer on retiring

Former economics professor Harry Shaffer made the decision to retire after 60 years of teaching, 53 of which at the University. The video was taken about a year ago.

Former economics professor Harry Shaffer made the decision to retire after 60 years of teaching, 53 of which at the University. The video was taken about a year ago.

Author, economics professor and longtime friend of the University of Kansas, Harry Shaffer, died Tuesday. Shaffer taught for 53 years at the University before his age and health forced him to retire in the spring. Russ Ptack, an old friend of Shaffer who played poker with him on Sunday, said breathing had become more difficult in his later life and likely contributed to his collapse yesterday at his home. His wife, Betty, was with him when he died.

“He has been on oxygen over the past year,” Ptack said. “It probably had something to do with a combination of old age and his ability to breath becoming more and more difficult.”

Ptack said Shaffer was probably best known among students for his passion for teaching his Introductory Economics class. Shaffer celebrated his 90th birthday in August, Ptack said, by reading warm wishes from the nearly 700 students who had joined his “Harry is the man!” online Facebook page.

“He got a lot of joy from that,” Ptack said.

 

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Comments

a great guy. bye-bye, harry.

I feel lucky to have been one of those many students he taught. :-) Bye Harry.

He will be greatly missed. I hope that peace and friendship surround his family and friends at this time.

Harry Shaffer was one of the best professors I ever had. His stories were always so great.What a truly inspirational person. I only hope that I can keep working until I am 90. Rest in Peace.

RIP, Prof. Shaffer. Thanks for the memories.

Thanks for being such an amazing professor. You really are thebomb.com!

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