Deceased Members–2009

In Memory of Eli A. Grossman

Eli A. Grossman, FSA, MAAA, ACAS, died in North Branford, Connecticut on April 26, 2009, where he and his wife Vivienne retired. Grossman was a Farmington resident from 1968 through 2001. He was a man of honor, intelligence and humor. He had strong friendships throughout the world, in the Hartford area and in the life insurance industry.

Grossman was born in Mount Vernon, New York where he lived until graduating high school. He went on to study mathematics at MIT, earning his bachelor's degree in 1936. At MIT, he made many lifelong friends, including a roommate from his senior year, Richard Feynman, Nobel Laureate in physics. Grossman embarked on a career in life insurance after MIT, except during World War II when he served in the Army Air Force repairing airplane guns. After the war, he met and married his wife Vivienne. They celebrated their 60th anniversary last fall with family.

Grossman was a fellow of the Society of Actuaries and a member of the Casualty Actuarial Society. From 1958-1968, he was vice president and head actuary at the Great Eastern Life Insurance Company in Rhode Island, a company he co–founded. From 1969–1981, he was at the Security–Connecticut Life Insurance Company in Avon, retiring as head actuary, vice president and a member of the Board of Directors. He was also a chairman of the MIT Enterprise Forum of Harford.

Grossman enjoyed his family, tennis and gardening. He played tennis until he was 87, often with his wife Vivienne. His gardening interests included growing tropical fruit in Connecticut. His banana tree labored through the New England winters, but he found success with passion fruit. He was an outstanding husband, father, sibling, executive and friend; he is missed. He is survived by his wife Vivienne and his son William of Los Altos, California.