The Common Vein

George Subotzky

1952-2012 

Obituary

Arts and music alumnus George Isaac Subotzky died on (3?) 9 July 2012 from muscular neuron disease. He was 60. Subotzky was previously the Executive Director: Information and Strategic Analysis, at the Centre for the Study of Higher Education (CSHE), a specialist centre of research, analysis and teaching in higher education policy located in the University of the Western Cape. An associate professor at the University of South Africa (Unisa), he was the co-recipient of Unisa?s National Association of Distance Education and Open Learning in South Africa (NADEOSA) Excellence Award in 2009, for his development of a conceptual model for understanding and predicting student throughput and retention at Unisa.

Born 27 May 1952, Subotzky attended King David School Linksfield in Joburg for his entire school career from 1958 until becoming head prefect in 1969. An online tributes page established after his passing reveals Subotzky as someone ?who without overt intention influenced us all?. He was a talented artist and an accomplished cellist who also wrote a rock opera. He enjoyed jazz music and early on exhibited a sophisticated appreciation for music, suggesting a musical career was imminent. He taught at Cape Town?s Waldorf School after graduating, where he was passionate about his choir, which performed at the city?s Cathedral.

Subotzky however pursued an academic career exploring models and strategies in higher education in Africa. He published extensively and delivered presentations worldwide. His school peers write of an ?advanced maturity?obvious even in the early years?, of his ?superior intellect, curiosity, philosophical pondering and thinking way ahead of his time?. Wits sociology Professor, Edward Webster, recalled, ?George went on to play an important role in developing educational policy in post-apartheid South Africa. I remember sharing a platform with him at a workshop on the new Sector Education and Training Authority [SETA]. He was highly respected and successfully translated his early idealism into innovative and practical policies in his later life.?

DEBORAH MINORS

Senior Communications Officer

Alumni Relations

Tel. : 011 717 1097

Fax : 011 717 1099

www.wits.ac.za/alumni

Wits Alumni Magazine october 2012

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