Marina von Neumann Whitman, pioneering economist who broke gender barriers in government and corporate America, has died at 90 from pneumonia complications.

At a Glance

• Marina von Neumann Whitman made history in 1972 as the first woman appointed to the White House Council of Economic Advisers
• Daughter of mathematical genius John von Neumann, she became one of the first female vice presidents at General Motors in 1979
• A lifelong Republican and international trade expert, she balanced prominent roles in government, corporate America, and academia
• Despite not identifying as a feminist, she actively supported women in economics and business throughout her career
• She passed away on May 20, 2025, leaving behind a legacy that opened doors for women in leadership

Breaking Barriers in Economics and Government

Born on March 6, 1935, in New York City to renowned Hungarian mathematician John von Neumann and Mariette Kovesi, Marina von Neumann Whitman grew up in an extraordinary intellectual environment. She graduated from Radcliffe College in 1956, where she met her future husband, Robert Whitman. When she pursued her doctorate in economics, she attended Columbia University because Princeton University did not accept female graduate students at that time. This early encounter with gender barriers would not deter her from achieving remarkable success in a male-dominated field.

In 1972, at age 36, Whitman made history when President Richard Nixon appointed her to his three-person Council of Economic Advisers, making her the highest-ranking woman in his administration. The president recognized her exceptional abilities, stating: “As a woman, she will be outnumbered on the council two to one, but not in terms of brains.”

Pioneering Leadership at General Motors

After leaving government service, disillusioned by the Watergate scandal, Whitman broke new ground in 1979 when she joined General Motors as one of the first female vice presidents in the automotive industry. Her appointment represented a significant milestone for women in corporate America, particularly in the male-dominated auto sector. She became a vocal advocate for addressing the underrepresentation and underpayment of women in the industry, though she later reflected on the challenges she faced with characteristic candor.

During her corporate career, Whitman also served on prestigious boards including Procter & Gamble, Alcoa, and Manufacturers Hanover, further cementing her status as a trailblazer for women in business leadership. Her expertise in international trade and economic policy made her particularly valuable to these global corporations at a time when few women held such positions of influence.

Academic Excellence and Personal Legacy

Throughout her remarkable career, Whitman alternated between academia and roles in public and corporate sectors. After her corporate tenure, she transitioned to academia, teaching at the University of Michigan where she continued to influence future generations of economists and policy leaders. A lifelong Republican, she maintained that she did not identify as a feminist, though her actions consistently supported other women in her field and opened doors previously closed to them.

“One of the things about being an economist is that you seldom get the chance to practice your profession as well as teach,” Dr. Whitman once observed about her varied career path.

Whitman’s 2012 memoir, “The Martian’s Daughter,” explored her relationship with her brilliant father, who colleagues nicknamed “The Martian” for his seemingly superhuman intellect. Growing up around figures like Albert Einstein, whom she called “Uncle Al,” shaped her extraordinary perspective. “I was 15 before I realized this was not the normal American way of life,” she later recalled. Marina von Neumann Whitman is survived by her son Malcolm, a half-brother, and two grandchildren. Her husband Robert passed away in 2024, and her daughter Laura died in 2023.