In Memoriam: Walter J. Mircea-Pines

In Memoriam: Walter J. Mircea-Pines

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences is saddened to share news of the loss of an esteemed colleague, Dr. Walter Mircea-Pines. Walter was a faculty member in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages who served as an instructor of German and as the IT coordinator for the department. He specialized in instructional design and development, with an emphasis on assessment.

Dr. Walter J. Mircea-Pines was born in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. He earned a bachelor's degree in Germanic languages and literature at Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, in 1985. Upon graduation, he began teaching foreign languages at a local high school. He spoke ten languages, six fluently.

Dr. Mirela Mircea and Walter were married in 1983. Their beloved son, Victor, was born in 1989. Tragically, Victor died of a sudden illness in 2007.

Walter and Mirela moved to the United States in 1990 and settled in Buffalo, New York. His mother, Pia, and their son, Victor, joined them in 1992. Walter completed the MA in education at the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1996, while he worked as a foreign languages teacher at the Mount St. Joseph Academy. The family relocated to Northern Virginia in 1997.

Walter worked with the United States Department of State as a translator and an escort-interpreter; subsequently, in 1998, he was hired as an administrative faculty member in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages at George Mason University. Throughout his career as a German language instructor and information technology coordinator, he cultivated his computing skills and appreciation for technology; having specialized in instructional design and development, he emphasized assessment and foreign language acquisition.

While overseeing the language department’s digital instruction, Walter designed and tested placement and proficiency exams in languages beyond the many he knew. He worked closely with faculty members or native speakers of Russian, Chinese, Arabic, Farsi, and Portuguese to develop, digitize, and test placement and proficiency exams for both graduate and undergraduate students. Walter went on to earn a doctorate in education at Mason in 2009. His doctoral dissertation, entitled “An Examination of Reliability and Validity Claims of a Foreign Language Proficiency Test,” was published in 2012.

Among his many achievements, Walter was also a member of the Board of Trustees of the San Miguel School, Washington, D.C., where he mentored scores of pupils.

Walter is remembered by his friends and colleagues as a scholar who used the theoretical insights of his studies to transform his practice as a professional educator, technologist, and applied psychometrician. He is fondly remembered by his students as a great instructor; his friends regard him as a true and devoted friend who generously gave of his time and expertise. Both faculty and students were enriched by his cultural experiences and deep ties to his native Romania and global outlook.

While seriously dedicated to everything he did, Walter was a fun-loving person. He exuded love for his family, his work, and his friends. Walter was also known to all as the “Yellow Man” because of his yellow car, IPad, and Apple Watch, and his extensive yellow casual or formal attire, which he wore daily. He said that the color yellow symbolized the feeling of freedom that he enjoyed in America.

The faculty, staff, and students at the Department of Modern and Classical Languages, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the College of Education and Human Development, and his university colleagues and friends deeply mourn his passing.

Dr. Walter J. Mircea-Pines is survived by his wife, Mirela; his mother, Pia; and his brother, Paul, his wife Marcela, and their son Andrei.

The Department of Modern and Classical Languages at George Mason University is establishing a fund in memory of Dr. Mircea-Pines. To make a gift by check, please issue it to: “George Mason University Foundation” and write: “In Memory of Dr. Mircea-Pines” in the memo line. Mail checks to: Mircea-Pines Fund, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, George Mason University 4400 University Drive, MS 3A3 Fairfax, VA 22030. Secure donations can also be made online at give.gmu.edu. Please be sure to indicate where your donation is to be applied by filling in the box labeled “Other” and designate Mircea-Pines Fund. For further details, please contact the college’s development office at: chssalum@gmu.edu