Deceased Members–2005

In Memory of E. Paul Barnhart

E. Paul Barnhart, FSA, MAAA, passed away on October 19, 2005. He was 79.

Barnhart was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico on July 4, 1926, and received a bachelor's degree from the University of New Mexico in June 1949. In addition, he attended Hamma Divinity School and received a master's degree in 1952. Barnhart spent all but the first three months of his actuarial career in the field of health insurance, beginning as an actuarial student with Transamerica Occidental Life in 1954. In 1964, he opened a consulting practice in St. Louis specializing in health insurance.

He served as SOA president (1978-79) and as original chairperson of the Health Insurance Section of the Society in 1982 and 1983. Barnhart also served as chairperson of the American Academy of Actuaries' Committee on Health and was a member of the Actuarial Standards Board. In addition, he served on the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Actuaries.

Barnhart has nearly 60 publications to his credit including papers and articles that have appeared in SOA's Transactions and The Record. Some include "Gross Premium Valuations of Individual Health Business," "Adjustment of Premiums Under Guaranteed Renewable Policies," "The Benefit Ratio Reserve Method" and "A Modified Development Method for Deriving Health Claim Reserves."

Barnhart was highly respected within the actuarial community for his insight, wisdom and volunteer activities. Perhaps Past President Neil Parmenter said it best as he was getting ready to bestow the President's Award to Barnhart at the 2004 SOA Annual Meeting in New York:

"...I was introduced to, and subsequently benefited from, frequent association at SOA meetings with my next award recipient. This next gentleman introduced me to the meaning of service to the actuarial profession and to the labors and rewards of actuarial research. A former president of the SOA, he is my role model for SOA volunteer service. Besides serving for years and years on dozens of SOA committees, service for years in the health section and participation as a presenter in scores of meeting sessions, this award recipient is probably best known for the dozen or more papers appearing in the Transactions of the Society of Actuaries over a period of three decades. His name really needs no introduction to this audience. Many of us have used his papers for study notes while taking the examinations. Please join me in recognizing E. Paul Barnhart, FSA, 1960."

Barnhart is survived by Althea M. (Gaugler) Barnhart, his wife of 57 years; sons David Franklin and Michael; sisters Ruth and Esther; brother Rev. Philip Barnhart; and grandchildren Laura and John.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Memory and Aging Project, Washington University Medical Center, 4488 Forest Park Avenue, Suite 101, Saint Louis, MO 63108-2293, 314.286.2683.