Edward S. Mason Dies at 93

Edward S. Mason, former dean of the Littauer Graduate School of Public Administration and a professor of economics, died Saturday of a stroke at the age of 93.

Mason founded the Harvard Institute for International Development (HIID)--at the time called the Development Advisory service--and served as the second dean of the Littauer School--now the Kennedy School--between 1947 and 1958.

Mason was a major figure in establishing U.S. commitment and responsibility to less developed countries in our time," said Kennedy School Dean Albert D. Carnesale. "He led a remarkable and generous life, combining scholarship and commitment to public service."

Dwight H. Perkins, director of HIID, spoke of Mason's "enormous influence" on the University's treatment of international issues. "He had a vision about what could be created at Harvard and went about and created it," he said.

mason also established the Edward S. Mason Program, a one-year masters program for public administrators of developing nations. Current alumni of the program number more than 1000 and include, among others, the president of Mexico.

"He was one of the first people to involve the University in international work," said Mason Program Director Steve Reifenberg. "The success of the program [can be seen in] where the alumni are placed throughout the countries represented in the program."

Mason also assisted in the creation of the United Nations and the Marshall Plan.

He served as president of the American Economic Association and advisor to the World Bank, and wrote several books, including The World Bank Since Bretton Woods.

Mason, a Rhodes scholar, received an M.A. from Harvard in 1920 and Ph.D. in 1925. He retired from teaching in 1969 and lived most recently in Santa Barbara, Calif.

A memorial service will be held at Memorial Chapel on April 8 at 1 p.m.