David A. Aschauer

CAPE ELIZABETH — David Alan Aschauer, 58, of Portland, passed away unexpectedly Monday, Aug. 22, following an incident which occurred while competing in a triathlon on Sunday in Cape Elizabeth.

Dave was born on March 8, 1953, in Springfield, Ill., the son of Joseph Henry and Martha Glenn Aschauer.

He was the Elmer W. Campbell Professor of Economics at Bates College. He was known by students as an exceedingly intelligent man and a difficult, yet fair professor. Dave received his B.A. in English from the University of Kansas in 1975. He received his PhD in 1983 from the University of Rochester.

Prior to Bates, he was a senior economist on the Board of Governors at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and a professor at the University of Michigan. He was also a visiting professor at the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, the University of Kiev and Bowdoin College. Before leaving to teach in Kiev, he spent a great deal of time teaching himself to speak and read fluent Russian.

David received many awards during his career including the Who’s Who in Economics in 1995 and the Roy Crum Research Award in 1991. His publications are some of the most heavily cited research papers in economics. Due to his expertise in infrastructure and economics, he was frequently called upon to speak, testify and advise several entities including the U.S. Congress, The World Bank, the CIA and the U.S. EPA.

Although he excelled in his professional life, he was most proud of his role as a father and grandfather. David and his former wife, Sarah, raised their three children in Brunswick, where they resided for 20 years. He survived to see his children graduate from college and to witness the birth of his three beloved grandchildren. When his children were young, he was a fixture at all of their sporting events. He was passionate about physical fitness and was exceptionally skilled in yoga and even considered becoming an instructor. He participated in many running races in Maine. He never stopped learning, and could be found many mornings at a coffee shop in Portland reading the latest economic news. His favorite places in the world were Onekama, Mich., and Willard Beach in Portland.

He is survived by his former wife, Sarah Aschauer, of Auburn; his daughter, Erika Rodrigue, her husband, Luke Rodrigue, and their three children, Grace, Oliver and Lucy, of Augusta; his sons, Nicholas Aschauer of Auburn, and Henry Aschauer of Tacoma, Wash.; his sister, Ann Osborne; and his brothers, Joseph and Martin Aschauer.

Memorial condolences may be expressed at www.stetsonsfuneralhome.com.