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Mark Hirschey, 59, died July 18, 2010, in Pequot, Minn., from cancer. He had been a member of the faculty at the University of Kansas School of Business since 1988, and was named the Anderson W. Chandler Professor of Business in 2005.

Hirschey taught investment analysis and managerial economics courses at KU. His research focused on financial economics, corporate governance and firm valuation. He authored dozens of journal articles, book chapters, and scholarly manuscripts, and multiple editions of five different textbooks. Hirschey served as the editor of several journals, the founding president of the Association of Financial Economists, and co-editor of Advances in Financial Economics, a scholarly research series.

In 1993, Hirschey began taking business students to the annual stockholder meeting of Berkshire Hathaway in Omaha, Neb. When the number of students attending increased, Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett stepped in to make sure there were enough tickets for Hirschey’s students. Hirschey encouraged finance faculty and students from other universities to attend the annual stockholder meeting and soon Berkshire Hathaway created a new category of tickets to accommodate the interest of students and faculty.

In 2005, Buffett invited Hirschey and his class to Omaha for lunch and an opportunity to talk one-on-one with Buffett about investments, an invitation that has been extended every year since. Thanks to Hirschey’s efforts, hundreds of KU students had the unique opportunity to attend the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting and meet personally with the famous investor. As a symbol of the friendship they developed over the years, Buffett recently sent an oversized (5 feet by 7 feet) get well telegram to Hirschey.

When asked how to define success in a 2004 interview with “The Motley Fool,” an online multi-media financial services company, Mark said, “I spent the first half of my life trying to make my parents proud of their son. It looks like I'll spend the last half of my life trying to make my kids proud of dad. If I leave them smiling, I'll be successful.”

“We are deeply saddened by the death of Mark Hirschey,” William L. Fuerst, dean of the School of Business said. “He had a profound influence on so many people through his teaching and his friendship. He had an engaging sense of humor and will be missed by so many people.”

“Mark had an intense passion for research and teaching about how financial markets work,” Keith Chauvin, associate dean of the School of Business, said. “Stock market anomalies were a frequent subject of his research and he loved to talk about the economics of investments. Whether it was in his textbooks, the classroom, or in conversations while hunting, fishing, or watching a KU basketball game, Mark was always eager to talk about the stock market and investments. The faculty, staff and students at the School of Business will greatly miss Mark’s infectious enthusiasm for learning and teaching.”

Friends and colleagues shared recollections of Mark on his guestbook at the CaringBridge.com. Jack Gaumnitz, School of Business professor who retired 11 years ago, wrote of his most memorable Mark Hirschey story. “Mark was invited to talk to the Applied Portfolio Class at the Regents Center on Big Gain Hunting! I remember Mark walking into class with a rifle enclosed in a case, opening the case, raising the rifle and, obviously, getting immediate class attention. Knowing his penchant for hunting, I was surprised, but not as much as the students! Needless to say, Mark followed with a very informative lecture on exerting effort and research time to find a solid security and having the courage of your convictions to make heavy commitments even though experts may be advising otherwise.”

Joe Bauman, former dean of the School of Business, saluted Mark for “choosing the noble career of growing mankind's knowledge through research and passing it along to the next generation through teaching.”

Many students wrote of the influence Hirschey had on them in their studies and their careers.

Patrick Quinn, New York, wrote, that “what you might not know is how Mark touched and enabled so many lives through the generosity of his spirit and interest in his fellow man. As great men kindle sparks in others without seeing where the ensuing flame grows, Mark himself may not have known how great an impact he had. Thank you for the man who let a biochem major that shared his passion for markets and investing audit his business classes, share the trips to Omaha, and whose counsel suggesting a 12-hour trip to Madison to deliver his business card and a joke to a friend lead to an internship that blossomed into a career. To enable a man’s passion is a great gift; I am honored and thankful to have known Mark. He undoubtedly touched more lives than one could possibly know.”

Derek Smashey found Mark to be an inspiration, writing that his favorite example is from the inaugural Securities Analysis class Mark taught in which the final project was to pitch an investment idea to Warren Buffett. Not only did Mark “convince us it was possible to present an original, thoughtful idea to him, and to do so in an entertaining way, but that we might even be able to broker the deal between Les Schwab and Berkshire Hathaway.” Hirschey inspired the class “to try a little harder, reach a little further and made us believe that anything was possible.”
Co-workers and colleagues often mentioned his humor, mischievous grin and twinkling blue eyes. Over the last year he inspired many in the way he battled cancer with a courage, forthrightness and strength, tinged with his ever present wit.

Jim Guthrie, professor at the School of Business, said “Mark Hirschey was easily one of the most memorable people I have ever known. For 22 years as colleagues and friends, Mark shared his wit and wisdom with me about the stock market, rock and roll, sports, politics and hundreds of other subjects. We often disagreed, but he was always worth listening to. He was at times mischievous and maddening, but he was also amusing, insightful and charming. He was a formidable intellect, a generous friend and a dedicated family man. He was one of a kind. KU and the School of Business will be a lot less interesting without Mark around to regale us with his knowledge, his opinions and his many stories.”

Hirschey is survived by his wife, Christine Hauschel, and three children, Nicholas, Jessica and Sarah.

A scholarship fund has been established in Hirschey’s memory. Donations to the Mark Hirschey Scholarship may be made through the KU Endowment Association or by contacting Shari Mohr, KU Endowment Association, (888) 653-6111.

If you would like to share your memories about Mark Hirschey, go to the School's Facebook page and comment on our wall.

The School will sorely miss Mark Hirschey. We are saddened at his passing.