BETHLEHEM, Pa. — J. Richard Aronson, an icon of Lehigh University who taught more than 20,000 students over a 50-year career, died Sunday.
Aronson, 85, was the founder and longtime executive director of the university's Martindale Center for the Study of Private Enterprise.
- J. Richard Aronson, an iconic Lehigh University economics professor, died Sunday at 85
- Aronson taught 20,000 students at Lehigh — more than any other instructor in university history
- Aronson retired from teaching in 2015 after a 50-year career
Under the program, he traveled the globe with more than 300 students over 35 years to study business practices, economics and government policies. The students' academic articles then would be published in the center's research journal, giving them a leg up as they began their careers.
Aronson retired from teaching in 2015.
He died at the health care center at Moravian Village in Bethlehem.
Todd Watkins, a professor of economics and the center's current executive director, said staff has seen an outpouring of grief since Aronson's death on Jan. 15.
Hundreds of alumni have called or reached out to share stories, he said, with many remembering him as a mensch who encouraged their passions. He also started the tradition of inviting the school marching band into classes ahead of the rivalry game against Lafayette College, he said.
"He helped students find their interests and themselves and jobs, and even some find spouses," Watkins said in an email. "He could tell a fun story about, well, anything. And he was simultaneously best friends, mentor and father, seemingly, for all of us."
"He helped students find their interests and themselves and jobs, and even some find spouses. He could tell a fun story about, well, anything. And he was simultaneously best friends, mentor and father, seemingly, for all of us."Todd Watkins, Lehigh University economics professor
A Brooklyn native, Aronson arrived in South Bethlehem in 1965 after getting a doctorate degree in economics at Clark University. He figured he'd stay in Bethlehem a year or two before moving on but wound up teaching more students than any other instructor in university history, according to a university profile announcing his retirement in 2015.
“I feel very fortunate in having come to Lehigh,” Aronson said in the profile. “Lehigh offered me quite a wonderful life.”
Early on during his tenure, he was the only professor teaching what's now known as Principles of Economics, or Eco 1, according to the profile. It is a mandatory class for business and engineering majors, and he would teach about 1,000 students annually, according to the article.
The university website credits Aronson's wit and talent for inspiring Harry and Elizabeth Martindale to make a sizable donation for the creation of the Martindale Center in 1980.
About 100 students would compete annually for one of the dozen spots to travel abroad and meet with leading financial minds in a host country. The 2015 profile highlighted a 2010 visit to Iceland as the country navigated an economic collapse. A leading economist was nearly in tears while speaking with students as he took responsibility for the state of affairs, according to the article.
Aronson is survived by Judith, his wife of 63 years, three daughters and four grandchildren, according to his obituary.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Congregation Brith Sholom on the 1100 block of Macada Road, Bethlehem
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Lehigh University for the Aronson Endowed Martindale Fund, which helps defray travel costs for the program he started.
