Deceased Members–2006

In Memory of Judy Feldman Anderson

Judy Feldman Anderson, FSA, MAAA, MSPA, EA, Staff Fellow for Actuarial Education at the Society of Actuaries (SOA), passed away at the age of 54 after a short but courageous battle with breast cancer. Judy's contributions to the Society of Actuaries; the actuarial profession and actuarial education were numerous. Her SOA career began in 1989. As the first SOA staff fellow in the Retirement area, Judy helped define the SOA's service to retirement benefits actuaries. In that era, the role of staff fellow was relatively new and she, along with her colleagues, carved a unique niche in the organization. Judy was instrumental in working with practice leaders and helped define the most important issues facing the practice area; she then worked cooperatively to create and implement research initiatives and education programs focusing on those issues. Her work was very important in helping the SOA focus on practical issues from a long-range perspective and in helping the SOA provide better service to members. Kelley McKeating admired Judy's focus on communication. "She added tremendous value by helping us ensure that our own focus made sense in the context of what was going on elsewhere in the organization."

"Judy was a true 'staff partner' before that term was invented to express the relationship between SOA staff and us volunteers" says Stuart Klugman, FSA, PhD. Over the last decade, the SOA has developed an increasing number of paper calls, often aimed at practical issues. Judy was instrumental in helping the SOA develop this methodology as a way to advance the state of knowledge in the profession. As a staff fellow, she was adept at anticipating the needs of the practice, and helping her volunteer partners focus on the most important issues.

Throughout her tenure at the SOA, Judy was involved in the SOA's Education and Examination (E&E) program. She worked with countless E&E volunteers on both the preliminary and advanced exams. In particular, she was a critical link between the Joint Board for the Enrollment of Actuaries and the SOA. Judy played a pivotal role in educating the actuaries who safeguard the nation's private pension system. "American retirees truly are far better off today than they would have been without her work, even though the vast majority of Americans wouldn't know who was responsible" said Lauren Bloom, General Counsel for the Navy Mutual Aid Association. In describing her commitment to actuarial education, Professor Klugman said, "she not only cared about ensuring the smooth operation of our processes, but also cared about the intellectual content of the work and the education of our candidates." "I think the first actuarial education document that candidates see is a study note about Risk and Insurance that Judy and I wrote a few years back" notes University of Waterloo Professor Rob Brown. "This is a fitting tribute to Judy's contribution to education. That is, that a student's first glimpse of the discipline is a note authored by Judy." John Richards, current E&E volunteer notes "a lot of our training and the way we are now handling things have been traditions developed and passed along either directly or indirectly originating from Judy. Her tireless work for the profession continues to shape the examination process in the future."

Judy was instrumental in working with the dozens of volunteers who crafted the 2005 E&E changes and worked tirelessly on their implementation. Among her many responsibilities in that regard was the seemingly endless recruitment of new volunteers to the E&E work. Notes Pam Marlin, FSA, EA "She made us feel valued; I wish I knew how she did it. She had so many contacts and somehow managed to remember about all our families and our quirks, which is no easy task!" Many of the E&E volunteers fondly recall what they call "intellectual sparring" with Judy. As fellow SOA colleague Judy Powills says "I think Judy loved doing that with the volunteers (and vice versa), especially because beneath it all was tremendous respect and tolerance for differing opinions."

She earned her Bachelor's degree in Anthropology from Roosevelt University and did graduate studies in math and statistics at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Judy earned her ASA designation in 1979 and her Fellowship in 1985. Prior to joining the SOA staff, she was a consultant at The Wyatt Company (now Watson Wyatt Worldwide).

Judy will be missed greatly by all who worked with her. Her analytical mind was complimented by her great sense of humor. She cared deeply about the world and people around her and had a tremendous curiosity and admiration of other cultures and traditions. Professor Klugman observes "Judy's legacy is a better actuarial profession from the education of a generation of candidates to her support for a variety of research and continuing education efforts." Her former colleague at the SOA and now professor at the University of Nebraska Warren Luckner likewise observes that "The actuarial profession has benefited greatly from her many contributions to actuarial education, research and practice, and her untimely death leaves a void that will be difficult to fill." Past SOA President Anna Rappaport speaks for many when she says "I will miss Judy and the profession will as well."

Judy is survived by her husband, Peter Anderson. Memorial contributions may be sent to the American Cancer Society.