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 bit.ly/PCASobits.
A Humble Man
Edward C. “Ted” Stone (FCAS 1990)
Circa 1960-2018
Edward C. “Ted” Stone was such a humble man that few of his actuarial colleagues were aware he was from one of Philadelphia’s more affluent families. Despite his heritage, Ted strove to create his own path. Gifted with mathematical skills, he chose the actuarial profession. Ted succeeded in his self-made career endeavor and made notable contributions as a member of the CAS Syllabus Committee, until he was struck by an aggressive form of cancer in his early 50s. Ted courageously battled this disease for years, undergoing lengthy surgical procedures on a number of occasions. He managed to keep his pleasant demeanor throughout. A lifelong sports fan who held season tickets to the Philadelphia Phillies, Flyers and Eagles, Ted survived long enough to see his beloved Eagles finally win a Super Bowl in 2018 — something that thrilled his friends and relatives. In fact, despite his deteriorating health, Ted traveled from Philadelphia to Minneapolis to witness the championship game in person. He is survived by his wife, Liz, his three children and numerous fond memories that he instilled in those who had the pleasure of knowing him.
—Stu Sadwin, FCAS, MAAA
Passionate About Nature
Nathan K. Voorhis (ACAS 1997)
1968-2018
Nathan Voorhis, COO and CRO at AmeriTrust Group, Inc. in Westerville, Ohio, died unexpectedly at the age of 50. He held bachelor’s degrees in both mathematics and education from West Liberty University and a master’s in applied mathematics from West Virginia University. He was a member of the American Academy of Actuaries and a former president of Buckeye Actuarial Continuing Education. Voorhis loved the outdoors and spent much of his time in the woods caring for his land in Ohio. He and his wife were runners, and he successfully completed two half-marathons and numerous 5Ks. He was passionate about animals and rescued several Doberman pinschers and his favorite pit bull, Dottie. A devoted family man, he was adventurous, dependable and loyal, with a strong work ethic. Surviving are his wife of 25 years, Vonnie Voorhis (Haught); son, Derek; parents, Norman and Vicki Voorhis (Arman); brother, Gary; mother-in-law, Nina Haught; stepchildren, Erica and Tony Berger; and many family members. In 2019 AmeriTrust created The Nathan K. Voorhis Memorial Gift Fund at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital with a donation of $10,000. Nathan and Vonnie Voorhis were great supporters of the work done by St. Jude. Donations to the fund can be made at the following link: http://giftfunds.stjude.org/nathanvoorhis.
The Proud Kiwi
Stephen S. Makgill (FCAS 1957)
1929-2019
Stephen Makgill died peacefully at his home in Newtown, Pennsylvania, at the age of 89. He was married to Joan Woods Makgill for 63 years. Heather Makgill Lyon wrote that her father took great pride in being a CAS Fellow and that he and her mother had many great memories of CAS meetings and gatherings. An active CAS volunteer, Makgill most notably chaired the Long-Range Planning Committee (1986-1988) and received the Matthew Rodermund Memorial Service Award in 2008. He was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and graduated from the University of Michigan. He worked at The Travelers Companies in Hartford for 20 years. He moved his family to Berwyn, Pennsylvania, when he became president of the Pennsylvania and Delaware Compensation Rating Bureaus. In 1989 he retired with his wife to Fripp Island, South Carolina, where they spent 27 years playing golf and tennis. The couple loved to travel and often visited family and friends in New Zealand. Makgill also loved to fish. Makgill is survived by his wife; children, Kathleen (Greg) Sisk, Stephen (Kelly) Makgill Jr., Heather (William) Lyon and Allison (Trevor) Giles; brother, David of New Zealand; 15 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
The Chess Player
Roy A. Berg (ACAS 1956)
1927-2018
After a full and productive life, Roy Albert Berg passed away peacefully at the age of 90 in Madison, Wisconsin. Born in Chicago, Berg worked as an actuary and vice-president at Old Republic Insurance Company in his hometown and at American Family Insurance in Madison. He valued his Norwegian roots, learning Norwegian as an adult and obtaining a master’s in Scandinavian Studies in his 70s. He belonged to the Ygdrasil Literary Society and the Torske Klubben in Madison. Another passion of his was chess. He was a member of The Cliff Dwellers Club in Chicago and served a term as president. He served as first board of the chess team for the Cosmos Club in Washington, D.C. and traveled internationally for the club, winning games in Paris and London. He was the only team member to have a draw against the Capablanca Chess Club in Havana. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Dorothy Dahlberg Berg; daughters, Ellen Marie and Christine Dorothy; son-in-law, Cyril W. Draffin Jr.; and four grandchildren. Berg was predeceased by his son, Eric Martin Berg. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Eric Martin Berg Memorial Endowment at Knox College (www.knox.edu/berg).
The Educator
Geoffrey Crofts (ACAS 1953)
1924-2017
Geoffrey Crofts, age 92, passed away peacefully on March 14, 2017. Crofts was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, to Thomas and Elsie Crofts. As a college professor at the University of Manitoba, Occidental College and the University of Hartford and as dean of the School of Actuarial Science at Northeastern University, he had an impact on the lives of students throughout the world. He was passionate about teaching and his pupils. He traveled around the world to teach and on trips given to him by his students to honor him. He was a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and was active in his profession, his church and his community. Crofts kept fit by attending Silver Sneakers classes at his local gym. He was considered a guiding light for his family and a generous soul to all he met. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jean Crofts. He is survived by his sister, Irene Crofts; children, Gerald Crofts, Barbara (Barry) Purchase and Karen (Jon) Tyson; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and two more anticipated at the time of his death. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Southern Poverty Law Center or the Geoffrey Crofts Bursary at the University of Manitoba.
