Faculty colleagues have established a memorial fund to honor Wolfgang Pindur, professor of urban studies and public administration, who died of a heart attack June 11 at his home in Virginia Beach. A faculty member since 1974, Pindur was 56.

The fund will be used to create a student award, according to William Leavitt, executive director of the Graduate Center for Urban Studies and Public Administration.

Pindur was the founding director of Old Dominion's doctoral program in urban services and formerly served chair of the department and associate dean of the College of Business and Public Administration. He stepped down as executive director of the Graduate Center for Urban Studies and Public Administration last year after many years of service. Leavitt, his successor as executive director, called Pindur "the heart of this department."

"Wolfgang was one of those people that, if you needed something, he delivered. His service to this department was beyond compare. He put us on the map," Leavitt said.

Adjunct faculty member John Kiefer, who was hooded by Pindur in May upon receiving his doctorate in urban services management, called Pindur his mentor. "He proved time and time again that he had the students' best interests at heart," Kiefer said.

As Pindur's graduate assistant, Kiefer saw the professor's commitment to research firsthand. "He emphasized the utility of the research. If the customer or client is not using it, it is not useful. That was a hallmark, but he also made sure students understood the theory behind it."

John P. Broderick, University Professor of English and Applied Linguistics, who was Pindur's friend and colleague for 26 years, said, "Wolfgang Pindur was a brilliant and honest teacher, researcher, and professional consultant. He loved life and knew how to share his joy with others."

A native of Oldenburg, Germany, Pindur authored more than 100 technical reports, articles and books. He lectured in China, Japan, France, Spain, Germany, Hungary and throughout the United States, and received numerous grants.

His areas of expertise included management, evaluation and outcome measurement. Locally, he worked closely with the juvenile justice system researching the effectiveness of treatment programs. His grant activity included work on customer service, strategic planning, low-income housing, pregnancy prevention and social service program delivery. As part of his community service he organized a multiyear strategic planning exercise for the city of Virginia Beach.

At the time of his death, Pindur was president of the Hampton Roads chapter of the American Society for Public Administration. He received the organization's Julian Hirsch Award and was a member of its national Hall of Fame. He was recognized by the governor for outstanding public service, and had been honored by the business college for his service to the community.