In Remembrance is an occasional column featuring short obituaries of CAS members who have recently died. Longer versions of these obituaries are posted on the CAS website at http://www.casact. org/pubs/proceed/index.cfm?fa=pastind.
Her Brilliant Career and Home
Judy A. Gillam (FCAS 1989)
1949-2014
Born Judy Ann Johnson in Manchester, New Hampshire, to Ernest and Eva (Merryfield) Johnson, she earned a bachelor’s degree in math from University of New Hampshire, a master’s degree in math from Rutgers University and membership in the Phi Beta Kappa Society. She went to work for ISO in 1977 and in 1980 married William Robin Gillam (FCAS 1987). After the births of their sons Danny and Mark, the couple joined NCCI. She was in charge of residual market reserves at a time of inadequate rates and unparalleled expansion in the national pool. In this public position, Gillam did an exceptional job in the hot seat among actuaries, insurance companies and regulators.
After NCCI, she was an independent consultant until retiring in 2012. Gillam enjoyed redecorating and doing repairs, having learned by watching shows like This Old House.
Surviving are her husband, sons, her father, some aunts and several cousins.
State Insurance Official
Philip O. Presley (FCAS 1967)
1941-2012
Philip O. Presley, 71, of Londonderry, New Hampshire, and formerly of Austin, Texas, died December 28, 2012, in Manchester, New Hampshire. He was born November 9, 1941, in Upland, Pennsylvania, the son of the late Oran and Ione (Whitehead) Presley. Presley was a graduate of Kalamazoo College and attended Johns Hopkins University. He was employed as chief actuary for the Texas Department of Insurance. He was previously employed with the New Hampshire Department of Insurance in Concord and the American Mutual Life Insurance Co. He enjoyed unique travel and sharing his love of it with his family. Presley was an avid rock collector, reader, and adopter of many cats.
He is survived by his wife, Linda (Hamilton) Presley of Londonderry; two daughters, Susan (Presley) Spinney and her husband, David, and Kristin (Presley) Radford; and six grandchildren. He was predeceased by a grandson, Andrew Tyler Spinney and his brother, Mark Presley. Memorial donations may be made to the Nashua Humane Society.
The Joyful Volunteer
Arthur D. “A.D.” Copestakes (ACAS 1959)
1922-2007
Through his volunteer work, A.D. Copestakes touched the lives and hearts of hundreds of individuals. He advocated for a wide variety of social justice issues and cited volunteering as the reason for a great deal of joy in his life.
Copestakes worked in the insurance industry for 27 years in Massachusetts. In 1977 he moved to New Hampshire to work for the New Hampshire Insurance Department where he was chief actuary until his retirement in 1988. He was also a certified flight instructor.
He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Janet (MacGillivray) Copestakes; his daughters, Christine Ritter of Naples, Florida, Vesta Copestakes of Forestville, California, and Sharon Copestakes of Barrington, New Hampshire; two granddaughters and two great-granddaughters. He was predeceased by a son, David Copestakes, in 2007.
Those who wish to honor Copestakes’s life are encouraged to do so by contributing time, energy and funds to good causes that enhance the value of life and community.
Actuary Inventor
Martin W. Deede (FCAS 1987)
1957-2014
Martin W. Deede died November 6, 2014. He was 57. He was born in New York City, the son of William and Anne (Carstens) Deede.
Deed was vice president of the Actuarial Department at Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in Warwick, Rhode Island, where he worked for over 27 years. In 2009 he served as vice chair on the board of the directors of the Highway Loss Data Institute. Deede also held a patent for a computerized method and system of assessing insurance risk.
He enjoyed the outdoors, especially hiking, kayaking, motorcycling and bicycling, but most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his family and grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife, Donna; four children, Rebekah DiLernia, Sarah Alfieri, Emily Deede and Benjamin Deede; two step-children, Kenneth Arruda and Joshua Arruda; a brother, Richard Deede; and seven grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Hematology & Oncology Associates of Rhode Island, Inc., Attention: Jennifer, for the purchase of an Infusion Chair in Martin Deede’s memory, would be appreciated.
Mentor, Musician, Renaissance Man
David “Dave” Benjamin Sommer (FCAS 1993)
1964-2015
Dave Sommer lived passionately and excelled in all his areas of interest. He died suddenly and tragically in January 2015, in São Paulo, Brazil.
Born in Concord, California, the second-born of triplet boys, Sommer was an Eagle Scout and graduate of the University of California-Berkeley and UC-San Diego. He parlayed his actuarial career into an international one, working in 20 countries across six continents. He arrived in Brazil in 1999 and was taken with the country, the culture and the people.
Sommer was a down-to-earth, generous person and a natural teacher who encouraged his students to excel. Winner of the 1999 CAS Ratemaking Prize, Sommer held executive appointments at leading multinational insurance companies and consultancies. He also played the saxophone in many bands. He is survived by his parents, Melvin and Sybil; siblings Steven, Debbie, Scott and Bruce; and his son, Josef. Memorial donations can be made to the Spirit of Harmony Foundation.
