In Memoriam: John Mager

John Mager, an EWU emeritus professor, passed away on Nov. 18, 2025 after 40 years of battling multiple sclerosis. He was 75 years old.

Professor Mager began teaching in the Department of Business in 1987 and, after 22 years, retired in 2009. Mager earned his doctorate degree in marketing from the University of Oregon in 1986, then taught briefly at Utah State University before coming back to the Pacific Northwest with his family to teach in the School of Business at Eastern. He taught at Eastern for the remainder of his career, teaching both graduate and undergraduate courses at the Cheney and Spokane campuses.

Mager was a lifelong learner who had a passion for research and teaching that he passed on to many of his students. He loved Eastern and being a part of its community. As his children and grandchildren became Eagles, he often remarked on how much he loved it at Eastern and encouraged them to follow in his footsteps and earn a degree at his beloved university. It pleased him that two of his three children and his granddaughter are now Eastern alumni.

Outside of his passion for academia, Mager loved to run marathons, hike and go on adventures as long as he physically could. After MS prevented him from enjoying those activities, he still continued to spend time outdoors both at home and at the lake with his family. He also enjoyed drinking black coffee each morning while listening to NPR.

He is deeply missed by his family and friends, but his legacy continues on through the work he contributed, the lives he touched and a brick along the pathway to Showalter Hall.

**Tribute written by Marion Mager-Reeser.