KENNETH MASTERS Obituary

KENNETH WHALEY MASTERS

APRIL 17, 2011

Kenneth Whaley Masters, professor, economist and statistician, died on April 17, 2011 in Fort Myers, Florida. He was 86. Ken, son of Kenneth W. Masters Sr. (deceased) and Lucy Sage Masters (deceased), was born in Boston, Massachusetts on September 5, 1924. He grew up in Rochester, New York and attended Brighton High School. He studied under the V-12 Navy College Training Program at Union College in Schenectady, New York and the University of Pennsylvania. He earned a PhD in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, where he taught. He also taught at the School of Social Work at Bryn Mawr College, the Statistical Center of the University of the Philippines and Penn State Capitol Campus. Ken's career began at age 11 when he acquired a 16-mile newspaper route, the longest in the city of Rochester. Twenty years later, in 1955, Ken was appointed Director of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Statistics, which he modernized, and where he initiated the Pennsylvania Statistical Abstract. He then joined the United Nations where he served as a senior advisor to the National Economic Council in the Philippines and the Ministry of Economic Development in Nigeria. In 1967, Ken returned to teaching, which he loved, at the newly formed Penn State Capitol Campus, Middletown, Pennsylvania. He taught courses in economics, statistics and social sciences, and chaired the Social Science Department from 1976 through 1980. He developed the Social Science Internship Program in 1970. The Kenneth W. Masters Award was established in 1990 to honor outstanding students in Public Policy at Penn State Harrisburg. From 1977-1978, he served as president of the Harrisburg Chapter of the American Statistics Association, which he founded in 1959. In 1985, he retired from Penn State and moved to Fort Myers, Florida. After retirement, Ken played golf, read, sketched, listened to music and explored a number of volunteer activities. From 1993 to 2004, he devoted himself to the Heights Elementary School in Fort Myers. There he helped 4th and 5th graders with their math skills, notably by creating a Math Jeopardy game. What he enjoyed most was helping individual 3rd, 4th and 5th graders write one-page stories about themselves, their families, their past times, their ambitions or their dreams, which Ken would illustrate. Ken had converted to Quakerism in 1955 and was actively involved in the Harrisburg and Fort Myers Monthly meetings, serving as Clerk of both at different times. Ken, who always made you feel welcome no matter who you were or where you were, was known for his kindness and love of people, books, music and art. He was an artist and a poet who kept journals throughout his life. He completed his memoirs in 2002. He is survived by his wife, Josephine McLean Masters of Fort Myers, Florida; daughter, Georgia Masters Earp (Edward) of New Cumberland, Pennsylvania; son, James Scott Masters (Leslie) of Columbus, Ohio; son Stephen McLean Masters (Elena) of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and grandson, Peter Hilman Masters of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Condolences may be offered at www.nationalcremation.com.

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Published by The News-Press on Apr. 27, 2011.

Memories and Condolences
for KENNETH MASTERS

8 Entries

Gary N.McCluskey

October 8, 2023

Wow! I am late for this but hopefully not too late.
I was a student of Ken´s at Capitol Campus. (75). He was also my advisor. What an advisor! What a mentor! What a wonderful, caring human being!
He led me to an internship that was profoundly formative. He supported me in seeking admission to seminary and shared his Quaker beliefs. I don´t recall what he said on stage when I received my diploma, but I remember it touched me deeply.
I have always served congregations that were highly educated and academic... I think Ken inspired that!
Gary N.McCluskey
Lutheran Campus Pastor
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ
Asulcm@ gmail.com

Marijon Shearer

May 9, 2011

Kenneth Masters' patient, intelligent, curious and gentle manner made a deep impression on me when I was a crazy high school pal of one of his kids. I hadn't met many intellectuals - and no Quakers - at that point in my life, and his genuinely thoughtful approach to our most harebrained behavior bolstered my respect for education and helped steer me to a path of lifelong learning. My apologies, Dr. Masters, for any grey hairs I caused, and I pray that you rest in peace. You were important in this life. God bless, Georgia, Joy, Steve and Jim.

Jerry Friedman

May 4, 2011

I would like to offer my condolences to the family of Dr. Masters. I was privileged to be a student of his at Penn State. He was a marvelous teacher and communicator. His lessons on the need for good data to inform public policy guided me throughout my career. After college, I also had an opportunity to interact with him as he mentored college students assigned to me under an internship program he established. Their work was a critical asset to Dauphin County's comprehensive human services planning process. Dr. Masters never sought accolades for this important contribution, but through his efforts the public was better served and professionals with a good understanding of statistics were groomed for careers in public service. He was a wonderful man who left an honorable legacy of service and knowledge. I was deeply saddened to learn of his loss.

Gary Levinson

April 29, 2011

I'm one of the hundreds of Penn State students that was guided by Dr. Master's during my college experience. He always had time for us and made everyone feel at ease and important. His help and interest in so many of us helped make our success in our careers
and life. He was a wonderful person in every way.

Judy Wolff

April 28, 2011

I also knew Ken Masters at Heights Elementary. He would come into my art room and he would bring in art history calendars, prints and such to share with my students. He had so much to offer all of us, and ALWAYS with a smile and true deep concern for all of us

Anne Lebo

April 28, 2011

i didn't know ken, i just happened to read his obituary and he sounded like a beautiful person. i am sorry for the loss of ken for all who had the pleasure of knowing him and for those of us who will never have the pleasure of meeting him.

anne lebo

Evon Douglas

April 27, 2011

It was my pleasure to know Ken Masters. He came into my classroom each week at Heights Elementary with a smile, the grace and charm of a nobleman, and the humble spirit of an angel. My students loved working with him on an individual basis because he always put them at ease by making them feel special. They were all eager to go to the media center with him each time he came. He managed to sit down with all of them at some point and create an illustrated short story about themselves, which they would sit and read to the class (with his help if needed). He and I worked together for many years to improve Reading and Math skills with my special needs students. They all loved him for his genuine concern for them and their success. I loved him as well and was always impressed with his credentials and surprised that he chose us out of all the people he could have helped. Ken was truly a scholar and a gentleman.

Ernie gudridge

April 27, 2011

When Ken was living in the Brandywine Condominium, he was a good friend to all who knew him. A kind, gentle man who shared his books and VCR tapes, and helped his less mobile neighbors whenever he could. We missed him when he and his wife moved away, and we will miss him even more now that he has moved further away.

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