Dr. Thomas Richard Kershner

Just saw the notice of Professor Kershner's passing in the Union alumni magazine. 1970 and I am a fresh faced Union economics major in likely the second or third term of my freshman year. Professor Kerschner walks in. The class lights up. I can still see him sitting atop a student desk throwing down one of his economic postulates for all of us to sink into. Inevitably the discussion ends with something he says that leaves us all laughing. We've hardly arrived at Union but we've all...

I was very fortunate in attending Union and majoring in Economics in the late 60s because it brought me into a close and meaningful academic and personal relationship with the new, eager, affable and brilliant addition to the Department.
Tom was easily the most influential faculty member I had there; but, as everyone who ever knew him would agree, he also combined academic achievement with integrity and good humor. When Tom joined our fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta we were thrilled and...

Dr. Kershner was very kind and thoughtful. Quick with a joke - my interactions with him were always pleasant and many times enlightening. RIP, my condolences to the family and all who knew him.

I'll start with a simple fact: I've been a professor in the Economics Department at Union College since 1979, and in more than one way, it's absolutely clear that he was a main reason I took the job. I had worked for GE in Schenectady, then gone to grad school, and when I came on the market and was deciding what interviews I found interesting, I got a call from Tom. (I had taken a graduate course from him earlier, too, in a quarter when I wasn't traveling.) He observed that I probably knew...

I was overwhelmingly saddened today upon learning of the passing of Tom. Although he came into my life as a learned advisor approximately ten years ago, Tom was a real treasure. Kind, compassionate, a great listener, a wonderful story teller, always creatively thinking outside of the box and generous beyond a fault. He was a giver in life. A giver of time, expertise, respect and love. Whenever we would catch up on business matters, the conversation would always stray to news of the day or...

We're deeply saddened to hear of Tom's passing. Tom and I clicked the first time we met, and what a blessing it was to have met him. He was a wonderful, intelligent and caring person. We've lost a great friend.

We were blessed to call Tom a friend. He was always a happy soul and ready to either inform or listen. Such a great mind and heart are hard to find in one person but that was Tom. He will be missed. Tom was not only an incredible financial advisor, he had a personality that creates friendships. Every meeting turned into an exchange of family activities and future activities. We lost a very good friend.

Such a dear and wonderful friend. Tom was so intelligent but so humble and always kind and caring, ready to help when you needed him. Although I have not seen him since his wedding he will not be forgotten. My deepest sympathy to his family with love.