In Memoriam
The Association for Consumer Research would like to recognize the passing of members and influential researchers in the field.
Please contact us if you have an individual you’d like to recognize. Kindly include the individual’s name, affiliation, a link to an existing obituary or news article, along with the date of passing. Should a photo be available, please share the photo for inclusion.
Benedict G. C. Dellaert
Erasmus University Rotterdam
We are deeply saddened by the passing of our colleague Benedict Dellaert on 20 August 2025, at the age of 57. A renowned marketing scholar, his pioneering research on choice modelling, consumer decision-making, and digital co-production shaped the field and appeared in leading journals worldwide.
Since joining Erasmus School of Economics in 2006, Benedict served in key leadership roles, including Head of Marketing and Director of Business Economics, where he was admired for his insight, collegiality, and dedication.
Benedict will be remembered as an exceptional scholar, leader, and friend whose kindness, wisdom, and humour touched many. His influence will endure in our work and our hearts.
Ruby Roy Dholakia
The University of Rhode Island
Ruby Roy Dholakia passed away peacefully on April 14, 2024, surrounded by family and love. A trailblazer, devoted wife, mother, sister, teacher, and mentor, she lived a vibrant and full life that touched countless people across the world.
Her legacy lives on through her family, students, gardens, travels, and the many lives she inspired. Celebrations of her life will be held in Rhode Island, California, and virtually for her global community. Ruby will be remembered for her spirit, joy, and generosity, and she would want all who knew her to celebrate her life with the same vibrancy she embodied.
Gerald Häubl
University of Alberta
Dr. Gerald Häubl, Ronald K. Banister Chair in Business and Professor of Marketing at the University of Alberta School of Business, is missing and presumed deceased following a climbing accident on Mount Aoraki in New Zealand. A leading scholar in judgment and decision making, consumer psychology, and choice architecture, his influential research was widely published in top academic journals and advanced understanding of consumer behavior and decision processes.
Renowned as both an academic and mentor, Gerald guided a wide network of doctoral students who went on to make significant contributions in academia and industry. He will be remembered as a brilliant researcher, trusted advisor, and cherished colleague.
Wagner Kamakura
Rice University
Wagner Kamakura, Jesse H. Jones Professor Emeritus of Marketing at Rice University, passed away peacefully on March 11, 2025. A leading scholar in consumer analytics, market segmentation, and quantitative modeling, his research shaped the discipline and influenced generations of students and colleagues.
Over his career, Wagner published more than 100 articles in top journals, with over 27,000 citations, and served as editor of the Journal of Marketing Research and associate editor of Marketing Science and Journal of Consumer Research. His work included landmark studies on customer satisfaction, repurchase behavior, and the financial impact of celebrity endorsements.
Known for his warmth, curiosity, and passion for mentoring, Wagner will be remembered as both a pioneering researcher and a generous colleague who left a lasting legacy in marketing scholarship and education.
John D.C. Little
MIT Sloan School
John Dutton Conant Little, Institute Professor Emeritus at MIT and Professor of Management Science at the MIT Sloan School, passed away peacefully on September 27, 2024, at age 96. Over a distinguished seven-decade career, he made foundational contributions to queueing theory, traffic flow management, optimization, decision support systems, operations research, and marketing science. Best known for Little’s Law (L = λW), a fundamental principle in queuing theory, he was a pioneering scholar whose work shaped multiple fields.
A prolific author and mentor, John published in leading journals across marketing and management science and guided generations of students and colleagues worldwide. Remembered as both an intellectual giant and a humble, kind teacher, his legacy endures in the disciplines he helped define and in the countless lives he influenced.
Naresh Malhotra
Georgia Tech
Naresh K. Malhotra died January 7th, 2025, in Atlanta, GA. After graduating with a PhD in Marketing from the University of Buffalo, Naresh joined the faculty of Georgia Tech in 1979 and prospered there for the rest of his academic career. He attained the highest academic rank in the University System of Georgia as a Regents’ Professor and started the PhD program at Georgia Tech. He retired in 2009. Known for his methodological contributions, his marketing research textbooks gained a wide audience around the world. With more than 106,000 citations in Google Scholar, Naresh became one of the most cited marketing scholars in history. His leadership contributions were plentiful. Naresh served as the president of the Academy of Marketing Science from 1994-1996. He served on the Sheth Foundation Board continuously from its founding in 1991. Such dedication characterized Naresh throughout his life.
Andy Mitchell
University of Toronto
Andy Mitchell, Patricia Ellison Professor of Marketing Emeritus at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, passed away peacefully on November 18, 2024. A leading scholar in consumer behavior and advertising, his research advanced understanding of consumer learning, memory, and nonconscious processing by integrating insights from psychology, neuroscience, and economics.
Joining Rotman in 1984, he was central to building its world-class marketing department, launching the PhD program, and mentoring dozens of students who went on to distinguished academic careers. He also founded the Canadian Centre for Marketing Information Technologies, creating vital connections between research and industry.
Remembered as a visionary, mentor, and institution builder, Andy leaves an enduring legacy that continues to shape the field of marketing.
Kent Monroe
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Kent Monroe, renowned marketing scholar and “Dean ofPricing,” passed away on February 23, 2025. He earned his doctorate at the University of Illinois, where he later served as department head and Distinguished Professor before retiring in 2005.
A pioneer in behavioral pricing research, Kent’s work shaped decades of scholarship and teaching, including his influential book Making Profitable Decisions. He mentored more than 30doctoral students and countless colleagues worldwide, leaving alasting mark on the field and its people.
Kent will be remembered as a brilliant scholar, generous mentor, and compassionate human being.
Valeria Noguti
University of Technology Sydney
We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of our colleague and friend Valeria Noguti on May 18, 2025. A cherished member of the University of Technology Sydney since 2006, after completing her PhD at INSEAD, Valeria was admired for her warmth, positivity, and generosity.
She was especially dedicated to mentoring PhD students and supporting colleagues around the world, leaving a lasting impact on the marketing community. Valeria will be remembered for her kindness, spirit, and unwavering willingness to help others. Her absence will be deeply felt, especially within our department.
Aviv Shoham
University of Haifa
Aviv Shoham, passed away last month. He retired as a full professor of marketing from the University of Haifa School of Business Administration back in 2020.
While his academic focus was primarily on international marketing, he was also interested in consumer behavior between and within countries – including research on need for uniqueness, affinity and animosity, opinion leaders and followers, engagement in risky sports, and experiences on online platforms.
Aviv was an exceptional researcher who left a profound and lasting mark on the field of international marketing. He was also an outstanding mentor, editor, reviewer, and a valued collaborator with researchers worldwide, contributing to impactful studies and earning over 15,000 citations.
