Dr. Anthony Y. C. Koo

Okemos, Michigan

Born on November 22, 1918 in Shanghai, China, died at home on June 6, 2011. Dr. Koo was educated at St. John’s University in Shanghai and graduated with honors in 1940. He went to the U.S. for his graduate education. He spent his first year in the U.S. at the University of Illinois, Urbana where he received a Master’s degree. He moved to Harvard University where he received his Ph.D. in Economics. While at Harvard, he married Delia Koo in Cambridge, Massachusetts on June 6, 1943. They were married 65 years when Delia passed away in October 2008.

The Koo’s moved to Washington, D.C. where Dr. Koo worked as a diplomat at the Chinese embassy. Around 1950 Dr. Koo moved to Michigan State College (now Michigan State University) to teach in the Economics Department. Over the years he rose to become a full professor. He was at the University of Michigan from 1964-1967 and returned to MSU in 1967 and won numerous awards including “Outstanding Teacher.” He retired from MSU in 1988 as Professor Emeritus. During the winter semesters, he taught at Florida State University in Tallahassee from 1988-2005. Among his many publications and awards, he was also a member of Academia Sinica in Taiwan and he contributed to the master plan to modernize the Taiwan economy, which resulted to the health and wealth of Taiwan.

Dr. Koo was a very social person. He always managed to strike up a conversation with everyone and anyone. He loved MSU football and MSU basketball.

Dr. Koo is survived by his three daughters, Victoria (Anthony) Hitchins, Margery (James) Bussey and Emily Koo; 3 granddaughters, Kimberly (James) Campo, Kathleen and Kristina Hitchins; 2 great-grandsons, Theodore and Nathaniel Campo; his brother, Benjamin Koo; his sister, Jane Hu and many nephews and nieces.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, June 11 at 10:00 a.m. at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, 1730 E. Grand River, East Lansing. The family will receive friends 1 hour prior to the service at the Chapel. Those desiring may make contributions to Hospice Advantage, 801 S. Waverly Rd, Ste 304, Lansing, MI 48917 in Anthony Koo’s memory. On line condolences may be made at www.gorslineruncimaneastlansing.com