Mark R. Gruskin, Ph.D.
May 15, 2023
MARK R. GRUSKIN, Ph.D: Age 69, associate professor of finance and accounting at Pennsylvania State University Lehigh Valley, passed away May 15, 2023 at his residence in Bethlehem, PA.
He was the son of the late Jack and Shirley Gruskin and is survived by several cousins as well as numerous friends, colleagues, and students in the Penn State community.
A native of Churchill, PA, Dr. Gruskin received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Penn State and spent most of his career working for Ford Motor Co., beginning as a financial analyst and retiring 27 years later as manager of the Fordstar Dealer Communications Network.
Upon his retirement from Ford, he returned to academia, earning a doctorate in finance from Wayne State University in Detroit. He then joined the faculty at Penn State Lehigh Valley and was later appointed associate professor. He also served a stint there as interim director of academic affairs.
Over the years, Dr. Gruskin made several major estate gifts to Penn State’s Greater Allegheny and Lehigh Valley campuses, including scholarships and endowments. Just last fall, he was honored with Penn State Greater Allegheny’s Distinguished Alumni Award.
Dr. Gruskin was a member of several professional organizations; authored or co-authored a number of published works, including articles in referenced and professional journals; presented many papers at seminars and workshops, and created some economics-related computer software programs. He served as a member of the Penn State Greater Allegheny Advisory Council, of which he was a past president, and on various university-wide and Lehigh Valley campus committees and organizations, including the faculty senate. He was presented with Penn State Lehigh Valley’s Excellence in Research Award in 2016,
Services and Interment Private at Beth Shalom Cemetery, Shaler Township, PA. Contributions in memory of Dr. Gruskin may be made to Penn State Lehigh Valley or to the Dr. Mark R. Gruskin Open Doors Scholarship at Penn State Greater Allegheny.
Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel Inc., family owned and operated. www.schugar.com
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I will miss Mark. He only had the best intentions for all people he worked with and he cared deeply for them.
By Julie Ealy - May 28, 2023
Dr. Mark Gruskin was a great colleague who generously gave to Penn State. His legacy will be experienced by generations to come. Please accept my sincere condolences. It was an honor to work with him.
By Nichola Gutgold - May 26, 2023
I worked with Mark. He was a man of few words but when he spoke, people listened. His generosity will help many students as they pursue higher education. RIP.
By Denise T. Ogden, Ph.D. - May 26, 2023
Mark was a true gentleman and a scholar, a wonderful colleague, a generous individual, and a dear friend. I will miss him very much
By Ranjan D'Mello - May 25, 2023