Deceased Members–2007

In Memory of Frederick E. Rathgeber

Frederick E. Rathgeber, FSA, MAAA, a long–time senior executive of the Prudential Insurance Company, passed away on June 28 at King James Care Center, Chatham, New Jersey. He was 91.

He was born on April 22, 1916 in Flushing, New York and attended Flushing High School.

After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Williams College in 1936, he joined Prudential as an actuarial student. He held increasingly responsible positions and in 1947, when the company was forming its Western Home Office in Los Angeles, he was assigned there as assistant general manager.

He returned to Newark in 1954 and was elected vice president and associate actuary. He was elected senior vice president and actuary in April 1959. In that post he played an important part in devising new insurance products and in the training of actuarial students.

In 1966 he was elected executive vice president and was a member of Prudential's Executive Office when he retired in 1977.

During WWII he served in the Navy on the staff of the Commander of the Air Force, Pacific Fleet, at Pearl Harbor. He was discharged as a lieutenant in December, 1945 and returned to Prudential shortly thereafter.

A very prominent life actuary, Rathgeber was a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and served as a vice president and secretary. He also served as secretary of the U.S. section of the International Actuarial Association. He was a member of the Senior Actuaries' Club, the American Academy of Actuaries and the New York Actuaries Club.

He was an avid and accomplished bridge player and was a Gold Life Master. He served as president of the Whist Club of the Oranges and the Naples Bridge Center, Naples, Florida.

Active in many civic and community affairs, Rathgeber was a former national board member of the American Red Cross and president of the United Way of Essex and West Hudson. He served as chairman of the following organizations: the Health Insurance Association of America, the Health Insurance Institute, St. Barnabas Medical Center and the Alumni Fund of Williams College.

He was a long–time resident of Short Hills, New Jersey. He also spent many years in Naples, Florida and was most recently living at Sunrise Assisted Living in Madison, New Jersey.

Rathgeber was predeceased by two wives: Marjorie Ehni Rathgeber and Dorothy Thropp Rathgeber.

He leaves a son and daughter–in–law, John and Lynne Rathgeber of Mendham, New Jersey and four grandchildren: Marjorie Moreno of Baltimore Maryland and William, Craig and Natalie Rathgeber of Mendham, New Jersey.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the St. Barnabas Medical Center Foundation to benefit the Cancer Center, 94 Old Short Hills Road, Livingston, New Jersey, 07039.