In Memory of Harold Dershowitz

Harold Dershowitz, FSA 1980, MAAA 1981, died January 23, 2023 in Jerusalem, Israel.

Harold was born on April 11, 1945 in Brooklyn, NY to Jack and Ruth (nee Jaffe) Dershowitz. He attended Yeshiva of Flatbush elementary school and Midwood High School where he took some classes at Brooklyn College in his senior year.

Harold attended MIT from 1962-1966, graduating with a degree in Chemistry. In addition to his studies, he played a very active role in the Jewish student community.  He led Sabbath services and was involved in the Kosher Kitchen. At MIT he met his future wife, Ann Kazanow, and they got engaged soon after both graduated in 1966.  They moved to Philadelphia where Harold pursued a graduate degree at Temple University and Ann graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a MS in molecular biology. They got married on June 11, 1967 and continued living in Philadelphia, where their eldest daughter, Aliza, was born. In 1973, they moved to West Hartford, Connecticut and Harold began a new career path as an actuary. They had two more daughters, Adina and Shira, in West Hartford and lived there until they moved to Atlanta in 1977.  While in Atlanta, Harold was admitted to the Society of Actuaries as a Fellow.  In 1984 they relocated to West Orange, New Jersey where Harold worked as an actuary for Actuarial Analysts for over 40 years.  While at Actuarial Analysts, Harold was instrumental in the early design and implementation of Universal and Interest Sensitive Life Insurance.  He was instrumental in shaping the transformation of the Life Insurance industry.

Harold was a student of the world, with abundant curiosity, and he found everything interesting.  Throughout his long-distinguished career in actuarial sciences, he was called on to consult with various insurance companies around the world.  In his personal life, he was very involved in planning educational classes and lectures, including arranging many Scholars-in-Residence weekends.

In June, 2017, Harold and Ann moved to Israel to continue enjoying their 13 grandchildren and great–grandchildren (now numbering 9).  Ann passed away in June, 2020 and Harold in January, 2023.