Marina von Neumann Whitman has passed away at the age of 90 due to complications from pneumonia. Her remarkable journey to becoming a respected voice in international trade and economic policy demonstrates her power of intellect. Will Whitman be remembered for overcoming societal barriers and paving the way for women in corporate America?
A Legacy of Breaking Barriers
Marina von Neumann Whitman, a pioneering economist who broke numerous gender barriers in government and corporate America, passed away on May 20, 2025, at age 90 from pneumonia complications. Born on March 6, 1935, in New York to legendary mathematician John von Neumann, she grew up in an extraordinary intellectual environment where figures like Albert Einstein were family friends she affectionately called “Uncle Al.”
Whitman’s early academic journey reflected the gender constraints of her era, graduating from Radcliffe in 1956 before earning her doctorate from Columbia University because Princeton wouldn’t accept female graduate students. Her appointment by President Richard Nixon to the Council of Economic Advisers in 1972 made her the highest-ranking woman in his administration, with Nixon notably remarking, “As a woman, she will be outnumbered on the council two to one, but not in terms of brains.”
Marina von Neumann Whitman, an economist and professor who rose at General Motors in the 1980s to become one of the auto industry’s most senior female executives, died May 20. She was 90. https://t.co/4g7k0UhwYX pic.twitter.com/f56NzLdVeP
— Automotive News (@Automotive_News) May 28, 2025
From Government to Corporate Leadership
After a year on the Council, Whitman resigned amid the growing Watergate scandal, eventually making another historic move by joining General Motors as one of its first female vice presidents in 1979. Her transition to the automotive industry represented another significant breakthrough for women in corporate America, though she later quipped about her challenges there saying, “I broke my lance on the impenetrable shield of General Motors.”
At GM, Whitman advocated for addressing the underrepresentation and underpayment of women in the U.S. auto industry. Her corporate career extended beyond GM to serving on boards for major companies including Procter & Gamble, Alcoa, and Manufacturers Hanover, demonstrating her wide-ranging expertise and influence in American business.
Film Friday Frenzy-
Marina von Neumann Whitman moderates a discussion between George Stigler and Mark Green. pic.twitter.com/xO4OnwdfRU— Free To Choose (@FreeToChooseNet) September 24, 2016
Academic Excellence and Lasting Influence
Following her corporate career, Whitman returned to academia as a professor at the University of Michigan, where she continued to share her expertise in international trade and economics. Her perspective on balancing academic and practical experience was clear when she stated, “One of the things about being an economist is that you seldom get the chance to practice your profession as well as teach.”
Though a lifelong Republican who didn’t explicitly identify as a feminist, Whitman’s career choices and achievements opened doors for countless women in economics and business. Her 2012 memoir, “The Martian’s Daughter,” referenced her father’s nickname while documenting her journey through the male-dominated fields of economics and corporate leadership.
Whitman is survived by her son Malcolm, a half-brother, and two grandchildren, having been preceded in death by her husband Robert F. Whitman in 2024 and her daughter Laura in 2023. Her remarkable legacy as an economist, policy advisor, corporate executive, and educator continues to inspire future generations of women in business and economics.