Dr. Peter N. Vukasin

Dr. Vukasin retired in 1988 from the State University of New York at New Paltz, where he served as Professor of Economics and Vice President for Academic Affairs. He provided leadership for the expansion of the college’s professional programs to include nursing, business and computer science while ensuring the centrality of the college’s strengths in liberal and fine arts. Prior to that (1957-1974) he served as Dean and Professor of Economics at Harpur College of Binghamton University. Colleagues at Binghamton credit him with exemplary leadership in helping to effect the transition of Harpur College from a liberal arts college to a major research institution. He was described as an acute listener who helped Binghamton navigate the troubled waters of the late 60s and early 70s without the violence, disruption and acrimony that characterized many campuses.

In 2010, a former student whom he mentored fifty years earlier endowed the Peter N Vukasin Lecture in Economics at Binghamton University in his honor.

Dr. Vukasin’s career included teaching at the University of California at Berkeley, where he earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees in economics, the University of Illinois, Cornell University and the the University of Ghana as a Fulbright scholar. Dr. Vukasin served for two years as an economic consultant to the Government of Burma, and held a Social Science Research scholarship for two years in the then Zimbabwe, studying the African Labor Force.

Dr. Vukasin served as a Captain in the United States Army in World War II in the China-Burma-India theatre.

In addition to his wife, Dr. Vukasin is survived by his son Dr. Alexander Vukasin and his wife Dr. Nicole Vukasin of Princeton, NJ; two grandchildren Gabrielle and Alexander Vukasin; his former wife Helen Vukasin of Lumberton, NJ; a brother Vernon Vukasin of Hayward, CA; two nephews John Vukasin and his wife Afa of Hayward, CA and Nicholas Vukasin and his wife Sherry of Arlington, VA and a niece Natasha Ruddell of Spokane, WA. Dr. Vukasin was also the brother of the late Milos Vukasin.

His Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, December 8, 2012 at 5:00PM in the WARING-SULLIVAN HOME OF MEMORIAL TRIBUTE at CHERRY PLACE, 178 Winter St., Fall River. Visiting hours Saturday from 3:00 to 5:00pm prior to his service. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in his honor may be made to Doctors Without Borders USA, PO Box 5030, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5030.