| Notes |
- The News-Press, 28 Jul 2009
Preston Crosby Bassett
Preston Crosby Bassett, a leading actuary who helped shape federal pension policies for several presidential administrations, has died in Fort Myers, Florida. He was 91.
Bassett passed away on Sunday, one week after suffering a stroke at his home, according to his daughter, Katherine Morris-Ketcham.
Specializing in employment benefit and pension policy, Bassett served on the Pension Committee for the Department of Labor from 1965 through 1970. He also served on advisory councils for the Welfare and Pension Disclosure Act and for Employee Retirement Income Security Act. He would later join President Carter's Commission on Pension Policy.
Bassett became the only man to be named president of all three major actuarial societies: the Conference of Actuaries in Public Practice (1975-1977), the Society of Actuaries (1983-1984) and the American Academy of Actuaries (1985-1986). He authored three acturial books and was published in the Harvard Business Review and The New York Times.
Bassett began his career as an actuary in 1940 at Prudential in Newark, N.J., following his graduation from Reed College in his hometown of Portland, Oregon. He served in the Navy during World War II in the South Pacific. In 1950, Bassett joined the firm of Towers, Perrin, Forster & Crosby, where he would rise to Vice President and Chief Actuary, overseeing a staff of more than 100 actuaries.
A long-time resident of the Philadelphia area, Bassett moved to Sanibel Island, Florida, with his late wife, Helen, in 1995.
In addition to his daughter and her husband (Ray) of Ponte Vedra, Florida, he is survived by his son, Preston C. Bassett Jr. (Sofia Novoa) of Clinton, New York, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
In a 1986 interview for The Actuarial Update, Bassett was asked to sum up his life to that point: "As I look back, I can say without hesitation it's been a joy."
Services will be held at Cypress Cove in Fort Myers, Florida and in Philadelphia at a later date.
1920 Federal Census of Milaukie Heights, Clackamas County, Oregon (8 Jan 1920)
William W. Bassett - 30 - M - MO-KY-KY - Head - Salesman General Store
Olive R. - 26 - F - CA-MA-CA - Wife
Preston C. - 2-2/12 - M - OR-MO-CA - Son
Rufina - 66 - F - CA-ME-ME - MotherL
(Living on River Road)
1930 Federal Census of Berkeley, Alameda County, California (7 Apr 1930)
William W. Bassett - 40 - M - MO-KY-MO - Head - Salesman Aluminum Co.
Olive - 36 - F - CA-MA-CA - Wife
Preston - 12 - M - OR-MO-CA - Son
Shirley - 7 - F - MT-MO-CA - Daughter
Rufina Crosby (Div) - 75 - F - CA-MA-ME - MotherL
(Living at 524 The Alameda)
(Married at 24 & 20)
(Rufina married at 18)
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Bassett Family Association Database
1917 - 2009 (91 years)