New River Valley, Virginia
Allan Beryle Mandelstamm died in Blacksburg on Sunday, September 15, 2013, after a long illness. He was born in Saginaw, Mich. on October 18, 1928. He came to Virginia Tech in 1974 as a professor of economics and served at Tech until his retirement in 1990. Before coming here, he was a professor at the Universities of Michigan and Florida as well as at Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Michigan State and Dartmouth. He was known for teaching large classes, frequently by television. In all, he taught about 90,000 students. He was predeceased by his wife, Maria, whom he married in 1967.
He has requested that his body be cremated and that there be no funeral. Those wishing to do so may make contribute to the Blacksburg Rescue Squad, 200 Progress Street, NE, Blacksburg, VA 24060 or to the charity of their choice. Arrangements by McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg. 540-552-3211.
This obituary was originally published in the Roanoke Times.
I was at Michigan State when he was teaching. Students, myself included, would watch his telecast even without taking the class. I was bummed when I didn't get him the summer I needed Econ. The prof I got announced, "I'm not Prof. Mandelstamm, and I don't have a sense of humor." He was correct, I only remember him for that, but still remember Dr.Mandelstamm fondly.
Randall Wilson
July 15, 2025
My fondest memory of Professor Mandelstamm was a lecture at Va. Tech in 1981. He asked the packed lecture hall if they wanted to know the secret to getting rich. The entire hall was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. Then he said, buy low and sell high! Thanks for the great advice. It has served me well over the years!
John Lina
February 14, 2025 | Orlando, FL | Student
Dr Mandelstamm was my Econ 101, 102, and 103(?) professor at Michigan State around 1973/74. Thoroughly enjoyed his class. This was during the streaking craze. LOL I won't relate the "Handsome Al" story after a student had streaked his class and done jumping jacks. I was privileged be in his live session where he taped the lecture for the rest of the sessions throughout the day. Because of that, nothing got "bleeped" from our session. Let's just say, he had a very effective way to win...
Lyle Bialk
February 10, 2025 | Croswell, MI | Student
Dr Mandelstamm was my professor for both introductory economics classes in 1969 at Michigan State. I was also part of the crew in Wells Hall that put together his television lectures the following two years working as a camera operator and the person who operated the shotgun microphone that picked up questions asked by his students in the lecture hall. One morning the microphone quit working, and somebody shouted out to say they could not hear the questions. Dr Mandelstamm feigned indignation...
Jim Rigby
January 29, 2025 | School
Handsome Al was a great man. He had great exams where you had to think and not just recite rote facts. I got A´s in both 101 and 102 and he called me in to encourage me which was very special. He was one of my most important teachers.
Stuart Eisendrath
September 11, 2024 | School
I was a student of the Professor at Michigan State just before he left. He was an OUTSTANDING educator/teacher.
Christopher Gonzalez
March 23, 2024 | School
Handsome Al was a dedicated, tough but wonderful teacher. Like many others here, I was inspired to major in Economics by his teaching and by the letters he sent to anyone getting an "A" in his class. I owe much of my professional success to his lessons and example.
Michael Pelkey (ECON, 1980)
January 17, 2024 | Springfield, VA | Student
I was in Professor Mandelstamm's economic class as a civil engineering student in 1977. Don't remember any specifics but I always remembered that I enjoyed his classes (I took two: Money and Banking, Macroeconomics, I think). Remember him as a large man who said he had taught in Michigan. All I can say is job well done professor.
TIMOTHY REGAN
September 30, 2021 | Beltsville, MD | Student
Dr. Mandelstamm was the most (only, actually) memorable professor I had at Michigan State in the very early '70s. Bigger than life even on the black and white television screen in Wells Hall. In the mid-70s, I was clerking at the reception desk of one of the (then) few motels in town when he came thru the door with his wife, as he was back in East Lansing from Virginia to receive an award or something. My eyes popped out of my head, as this was the first time I'd seen him in person, and...
Deb Medel
March 15, 2021 | Portland, OR | Student