Zane Spinder September 2, 1941 - December 30, 2008
Zane Spindler, Professor of Economics, died of pancreatic cancer, in Cape Town on December 30, 2008. Zane served
Simon Fraser with distinction for more than four decades, having come here from his PhD studies at Michigan State
University in 1967. He was widely versed in economics, but his specialty was "Public Choice", the study of interaction between private and public participants in the economy. He published prodigiously and continuously in a wide range of journals, and regularly gave papers at conferences worldwide.
Zane had a passion for life that began at home with lifelong friends, strong conversation, and gourmet food - he was a first class chef. He was also esthetically sophisticated, and both patronized and collected art.
Zane was an explorer of life: not least as an inveterate traveller. Two decades ago he fell in love with Cape Town, and usually spent his research semester there. On his website,
Zane quotes Captain Sir Richard Burton: “One of the gladdest moments in human life, methinks, is the departure on a distant journey into unknown lands. Shaking off, with one mighty effort, the fetters of Habit, the leaden weight of
Routine, the clock of many Cares, and the slavery of Home, one feels once more happy. The blood flows with the fast circulation of childhood. A journey, in fact, appeals to
Imagination, to Memory, to Hope --- the three sister Graces of our moral being.”
Zane will be remembered by his friends as unfailingly loyal, kind and courtly. We are deeply saddened. On February 1,
James Dean will host a small gathering in his memory: 604
727 0893.