Deceased Members–2009

In Memory of Neil A. Parmenter

SOA Past President Neil A. Parmenter, FSA, MAAA, EA, FCA, passed away on May 3, 2009. He had been struggling with serious health issues for much of this year.

Parmenter was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, and always lived in the city he loved. He attended the University of Iowa, and received a bachelor's degree in actuarial science in 1960. He was senior actuary, Principal Life Insurance Company for 38 years before retiring in 2000. He was a consulting actuary post retirement. During his career, Parmenter worked in the areas of funding, financing and expensing of retirement benefit programs, and management of retirement benefit administration and actuarial disciplines.

He was a strong leader of the SOA and contributed to its work for many years, serving in numerous capacities for the organization. Most recently, he was a member and vice chair of the Nominating Committee. In addition, Parmenter was a member of the Board of Governors (1996–99); SOA vice president (2000–02); president–elect (2002–03); and president of the Society for the 2003–04 term.

Serving on various SOA committees and task forces was a lifetime vocation for Parmenter. Following is a list of some of the groups he chaired, was an active member of, or where he served in an advisory capacity. Committees included: Examination; Education Steering and Coordination; Enrolled Actuaries; Elections; Admissions; Retirement Systems Professional Development; Annual Meeting Program; Finance; Retirement Systems Practice Advance; Operations; and Spring Meetings. Task forces included: Non–Mortality Decrement; Sections and Practice Areas; and Review of Discipline Procedures. He was also a member and past chair of the Pension Section Council and served as a member of the North American Actuarial Council.

Parmenter's volunteer involvement reached a number of organizations outside the SOA. He served as treasurer, secretary and president of the Des Moines Actuaries Club. Other professional activities included serving as a member of the following: the Joint Program Committee of the Enrolled Actuaries meeting, the Pension Practice Council of the American Academy of Actuaries, the Financial Structure Task Force of the Calvin Retirement Community and the Task Force on Grant Allocations to Non–Profit Organizations for the Municipal Parks and Recreation Department. He also served as National Officer and was a member of the National Executive Committee, non–profit youth sports administration, for the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) of the United States.

Parmenter was a strong advocate of the actuarial profession and was admired for his keen insight with regard to actuarial matters. He was also highly respected for his involvement in numerous actuarial and other volunteer activities. He brought a positive spirit to every project or activity he was involved in, both on a professional and personal level—he will be missed.

Parmenter is survived by his wife Teresa, eight children and fourteen grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Parmenter's name to the following organizations: Beaverdale Little League, Iowa Amateur Athletic Union, Holy Trinity Catholic Church, or The Actuarial Foundation.