Matthew Stephens W52 WG58 GR64, associate professor emeritus of accounting, a longtime Wharton faculty member, passed away on July 14 at the age of 86. Stephens enjoyed more than a 50-year tenure with the Wharton School, beginning with his time as an undergraduate student in the economics department. After earning his bachelor’s degree in 1952, he served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Force during the Korean War, stationed in Munich and Paris. He returned from the war and joined Arthur Andersen & Co. as a senior accountant. Stephens completed his MBA from Wharton in 1959 and his PhD in finance in 1964. He taught accounting and finance at his alma mater for 45 years, until his retirement in 2001. During his tenure at Penn, Stephens served as a regular lecturer for Wharton Executive Education and as vice dean and director of the Wharton Undergraduate Division from 1972 to 1985.
He received numerous awards during his career, including the Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching, the Outstanding Professor Award from Wharton’s Evening School, and the Distinguished Service Award from Wharton. He also served on the board of Directors at Inroads of Philadelphia and the Work Wear Corporation.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Beryl; their two children, Matthew and Kathleen; three grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters.
