Ray M. PETERSON

PETERSON, WIESE, REID, ANDERSON, PANGBORN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/22/2017 at 18:16:54

June 22, 1901 --- November 13, 1984

Ray M. Peterson, a 1927 Fellow of the Society and former vice president and associate actuary of the Equitable Life Assurance Society, died on November 13, 1984. A native of Dows, Iowa, Mr. Peterson attended Coe College. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1922. In 1923 he received his Master of Science degree from the University of Iowa, and joined the Equitable in July of that year. He retired from the Equitable, forty-three years later, on July 1, 1966. For most of his career, he was concerned with group pensions. He wrote the landmark paper "Group Annuity Mortality" in 1952 (TSA IV (1952), 246-307), which presented the 1951 Group Annuity Table of mortality.

Mr. Peterson was active in Society and industry activities relating to pensions. He contributed many articles, discussions, and book reviews for Society publications. He chaired the Society's Committee on Group Annuity Mortality and was a member of the Committee to Study Pension Plan Problems. He was a founding member of the American Pension Conference and a member of the Pension Research Council at the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce. He served on various pension-oriented committees of the insurance industry, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), and the National Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Peterson was an early and vocal leader in the long effort to achieve more equitable treatment of insured pensions under federal income tax--an effort that ultimately led to important changes included in the Life Insurance Company Income Tax Act of 1959. His many articles on Social Security and related matters appeared in a variety of publications.

Mr. Peterson is remembered for his integrity and enthusiasm. He read widely, loved music and photography, and enjoyed caring for his home and yard. He is survived by his wife, Helen; a son, Alan B.; two daughters, Anne L. Wiese and Marjory J. Reid; a brother, Fay Peterson; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

TRANSACTIONS OF SOCIETY OF ACTUARIES
1984 VOL. 36

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[son of Fred Peterson and Mary (Anderson) Peterson; married Helen Mabel Pangborn]