In memoriam: John M. Pinkerton, professor emeritus in the Pamplin College of Business
John M. Pinkerton, the SunTrust Professor Emeritus in the Department of Finance, Insurance, and Business Law in the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech, passed away on May 19.
A member of the university community since 1977, Pinkerton retired in 2017, when he was honored with the title of SunTrust Professor Emeritus by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.
In retirement, Pinkerton and his wife, Kathy, split their time between Madison, Wisconsin, and Savannah, Georgia, helping to care for their five grandchildren.
During his 40-year tenure at Virginia Tech, Pinkerton provided strong leadership while serving as chair of the finance department’s undergraduate curriculum committee as well as Pamplin’s research committee. He served as the director of the finance department’s Ph.D. program for five years.
Pinkerton was responsible for leading many significant academic initiatives, including specialized courses, and served as the co-advisor to the SEED Program, a student-run investment group that manages $5 million of university funds, for several years.
“John cared deeply about both teaching and research,” said Vijay Singal, department head of finance. “He was one of the smartest, nicest, and best human beings you could ever meet.”
In his career, Pinkerton taught more than 20 undergraduate and graduate-level courses. He advised many students on their master's theses and doctoral dissertations and helped them develop successful careers in both industry and academia.
In addition, he published in the top journals in finance, including six articles in the Journal of Finance. He also won several awards for his teaching, including multiple Teaching Excellence Awards and Learning Resources Awards.
A member of the American Finance Association, Financial Management Association, and Southern Finance Association, Pinkerton received his bachelor’s degree and MBA from Virginia Tech and a Ph.D. from the University of Florida. In addition, while he did not speak of it, he was also a decorated war hero, wounded while serving in Vietnam as a captain in the Marine Corps.
Funeral arrangements are currently unavailable. If you would like to send a note of sympathy or remembrance to Kathy, she can be reached at:
Kathy Pinkerton (kpinkerton17@gmail.com)
3425 Valley Creek Circle
Middleton, WI 53562
