George H. Quester

The Department of Government and Politics is deeply sadden to announce the passing of Dr. George H. Quester, our former colleague and a long-standing figure at the University of Maryland. Dr. Quester passed away on July 3, 2023. He was 86 years old.

Dr. Quester contributed tremendously to our understanding of international politics, American foreign policy, and military strategy during his illustrious career. His expertise enriched our department and various institutions, including Cornell University, Harvard University, UCLA, the National War College, and George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs.

A distinguished author, Dr. Quester wrote extensively on international security issues, contributing over a dozen books that have significantly shaped the field of international relations. His prolific publications include works like "Deterrence Before Hiroshima,” "The Politics of Nuclear Proliferation,” "Nuclear First Strike: Consequences of a Broken Taboo," and more recently, "Nuclear Zero?: Lessons from the Last Time We Were There."

Beyond his academic accomplishments, those who knew Dr. Quester will remember him for his sense of humor, devotion to his family, love for traveling, the Yankees, history, and unique passions for railroads, subways, and stamp collecting. His vibrant personality and unwavering dedication to his field will be deeply missed.

He is survived by his wife, Aline Quester, their children Theodore and Amy, and five grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dr. Quester's memory to the National Eye Institute (NEI) or a charity of your choice. 

As we mourn this loss together, let us also take the time to celebrate the life and accomplishments of Dr. George Quester and the profound influence he had on our academic community. His research, insights, and enthusiasm for his field will continue to inspire us all.

Comments from Colleagues:

“George was a great IR scholar, an amazing colleague, and a wonderful human being. He led GVPT for many years, taking it to the next level. He was a committed teacher and mentor and was always generous with his time. His kindness radiated throughout the department and the community. His legacy will endure.” – Professor Shibley Telhami, UMCP.

"I personally found him to be accessible, fair minded and willing to listen to all points of view.  He was a kind and gentle man, with a wonderful sense of humor.  He brought great distinction to this department and drew respect from all fields.  He will be missed.” – Professor Emeritus James Glass, UMCP.

“May George's soul, and it was a great one, rest in peace. George brought vitality and cohesion to a badly divided department. And he found intriguing ways to build a new sense of belonging and cooperation. George saw that learning could be fun and need never be displayed in a militant manner. Such grace being all too rare, his embodiment of it will be sorely missed.” – Professor Emeritus Charles E. Butterworth, UMCP.

“I was saddened to learn of George Quester’s recent passing. He was a much-respected scholar and academic leader. He was one of the giants in IR, contributing important studies of U.S. foreign policy in general, and on deterrence in particular. George came to Maryland from Cornell, and was chair of GVPT from about 1982 to 1990. During that time, he instituted policies and customs that resulted in a reinvigorated department with strong hires, increased visibility on and off campus, and an atmosphere of collegiality that had been lacking for many years. And he did all that with intelligence, humor, and friendship... He will be missed.” – Professor Emeritus Jonathan Wilkenfeld, UMCP.

“George Quester was a leading scholar of IR security and deterrence policy. He had a great sense of humor and was dedicated to mentoring and supporting PhD students. It was my honor to know him as a colleague for a few years before he retired from the department.” – Professor Paul Huth, UMCP.

“As all have said, George was not only a fantastic scholar but also a wonderful person.  I have missed his wit and wisdom since he retired, and am very sad to hear he is no longer with us.” – Professor Margaret Pearson, UMCP.

“George was my first chairman, and was a great support during my struggle for tenure, putting pressure on President Toll when I had to make a decision between UMCP and another university before the official decision was made.  I'd also like to mention George's wife, Aline, who was very kind to my wife Elly.  They had both worked with the same professor at the University of Texas.  George brought a spirit of generosity and humaneness to the department.  I'll leave his professional achievements to others.  To me he was a fine human being who never let his position define him.” – Professor Emeritus C. Fred Alford, UMCP.

“George Quester was a real leader who did everything possible to bring some comity to the department that had been wracked by conflict for years.  Even if he did like the Yankees.” – Professor Emeritus Eric Uslaner.

“I was saddened to hear of the passing of George Quester. I have missed his presence in our department since he retired. George was the chair of the department when I arrived here, and I think he welcomed me as a fellow Cornellian. I remember him as someone with a twinkle in his eye, not taking himself too seriously despite the seriousness of the issues he studied. My fondest memories of him are from the summer he took Ken Conca and I with him to teach IR in China--an eye opening experience for me and a great adventure for us all. He contributed a lot to this department, and to the study of international relations at UM and more broadly. I was honored to know him.” – Professor Virginia Haufler, UMCP.

“George and I often spoke in my office about how far contemporary political science has moved away from classical political theory and philosophy.  I said that I hoped the change was an addition and not a substitution.  George, always the gentleman, never expressed any reservations - though I knew he had them. We would reminisce about the greats of political science that he knew.  I loved his stories about famous comparativists and IR scholars from the '60s and 70's… What an academic, what a scholar, what a fine human being.  I still miss George, and think of him often.” – Professor Emeritus Mark Lichbach, UMCP.