"For actuaries who were able to predict everything but their own demise."
The Other FCAS: Honoring Our Fallen All-But-FCAS Actuaries (Because Apparently the CAS Won’t)
If there were an award for “first obituary to mention CAS Exam 9”, that idiosyncratic honor would go to the late, great, larger-than-life Terry Robinson (ACAS, 1984- 2024). Terry was a man of many achievements. He was also a skilled debater, both in high school and… well, constantly, just for fun. But if there’s one place an impassioned, well-crafted argument simply will not work, it's with death. And if there’s another, it’s with the Casualty Actuarial Society.
At the time of his death, Terry was studying for CAS Exam 9 (his third sitting). He’d passed all other exams required for accreditation. His friends and colleagues petitioned the CAS to grant Terry an honorary, posthumous FCAS. They refused, denying him his ultimate professional goal.
It was a real kick in the ass. And thus, we honor him (and all actuaries, past and future, who may face the same sad situation) by awarding Terry The Other FCAS (Fellow of the Corpse Actuarial Society). Is it morbid? Maybe a little. Is it a heartfelt tribute nonetheless? Absolutely.
Learn more about The Other FCAS on our About page. Learn more about Terry and his life here. Nominate your own actuary here (and our condolences for your loss).
- Published on
We are thrilled to award Terry Robinson (1984 - 2024) the first (and thus far, only) Other FCAS (Fellow of the Corpse Actuarial Society). While we're still a little miffed at him for dying and breaking our hearts, there is still no one more deserving of this made-up honor than Terry.
Accomplishments: Actuarial
Terry graduated from Temple University with a BA in Actuarial Science in 2008. He was a member of Gamma Iota Sigma, a professional fraternity for students pursuing an education in insurance, risk management, and actuarial science. He was a member of the American Academy of Actuaries as well as the Casualty Actuarial Society, from which he earned his associateship (ACAS) in 2017.
He was scheduled to take (and likely to pass) CAS Exam 9, thus earning his FCAS, in 2025. Death, a real son-of-a-bitch in many ways, interrupted those plans; hence the existence of THIS award.
Terry was not content to hide his actuarial light under a bushel. He made a point of giving back to the profession. He chaired the CAS Reinsurance Working Group from 2021 - 2024, and was a frequent participant in his alma mater's "Be An Actuary" Day. I too was a Temple alum, and always giggled a little when he rode off on his bike to convince North Philadelphia college kids to put down their Stanley cups and pick up a working knowledge of Microsoft Excel.
You know what, though? There was no better representative of the actuarial profession, or of any profession. Terry was capable of making anything fun.
He made passing exams fun:
He somehow even made failing exams fun:
Accomplishments: Other
Dear god, this man accomplished so much. It was marvelous and inspiring and a little exhausting. Here are but a fraction of his many accomplishments:
He was an Eagle Scout and a lifelong volunteer with Scouts BSA. He was a member of the Savoy Opera Company. He was a citizen planner with the American Planning Association (APAPA-SE). He participated in the East Kensington Neighbors Association. He was the co-host and editor of several podcasts about tabletop roleplaying games. He fulfilled many of his duties to these organizations WHILE walking mile after mile on his beloved treadmill desk.
The man was a human Border Collie. He was also a wonderful husband, stepfather, friend, and family member. His existence made this world better, weirder, and more suffused with wonder.
Remembering Terry
You can ready his obituary here, to learn more about the man, the myth, and the perpetual motion machine that was Terry Robinson.
You can view his memorial website here.
You can watch a recording of his memorial service here. Honestly? It's got more laughs per minute than most memorials (because Terry was hilarious). It had to be held at a Scout reservation because no traditional funerary location could contain the volume of people who wished to remember, love, and pay tribute to this man.
You can donate to the Washington Crossing Council of Terry's beloved Scouts BSA here, and I encourage you to do so. I have filed a joint tax return with an actuary and I know how much y'all make.