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Link to the 2005 news archive

Link to the 2006 news archive

2006 NEWS ARCHIVE

The Association's Don Moore presents our check to Midshipman Nathan Robert McCrillis

SECOND ANNUAL MARINE INSURANCE AWARDS GO TO JEFFREY COOK OF SUNY AND NATHAN ROBERT McCRILLIS OF KING'S POINT

Commencing in 2005, the Association’s Executive Committee has been allocating funds for a Marine Insurance Award in memory of our members who died on September 11, 2001, which is offered annually to those USMMA (King’s Point) and SUNY (Fort Schuyler) candidates who have the best grade in the respective marine insurance course, or who, in the opinion of their instructors, have indicated the keenest interest in the marine insurance field.

The 2006 awards, of $500 each, have been presented to Jeffrey Cook, a graduate student at SUNY Maritime College, who is now looking to pursue a career in underwriting and to Nathan Robert McCrillis of King's Point.

The 2005 awards, of $500.00 each, were given to Vladimir Durandin of Fort Schuyler and to USMMA graduate Dawn Ashley Ivancik from California, Maryland.

NEWS FROM LONDON

At its private meeting on May 10th, the UK Association re-elected Nigel Rogers as Chairman. Our congratulations go to him. At the AGM the following day, Nigel gave an address on "Shipbuilders' Risks", which we have posted on the Papers page of this website.

Obituary – Howard L. Myerson

The Executive Committee reports with sadness the death of Lifetime Member Howard Myerson, in New York on March 12th, 2006, after a long illness. He had been a member of this association since 1957.

Howard was one of the few average adjusters to have practiced on both sides of the Atlantic. Born in Chicago on December 18, 1929, he was a graduate of the University of Chicago (Class of 1950) and served in the US Army before joining the Chicago office of The Hartford Insurance Company. After taking evening classes in Admiralty law, Howard became interested in average adjusting and joined Despard & Company. In the early 1960s, he took up an opportunity to work for ER Lindley in London, broadening his experience from Great Lakes Practice into blue water and international claims. He returned to the US to take up a position in New York with Despard, which later merged into Fred S. James. Subsequently, he joined Johnson & Higgins, retiring from that firm in the mid-1980s.

Howard always valued his ties with his English colleagues and this was reflected in ER Lindley’s inviting him to become their US representative when he left J&H. When ER Lindley later took over Richards Hogg, Howard continued to serve the newly-formed Richards Hogg Lindley in a consulting capacity.

Besides our own Association, Howard was a tireless and hard-working member of AIDE and of the US MLA and served as valuably in those associations as in our own. He enjoyed helping to organize international conferences and attending meetings worldwide, combining his love of the profession of average adjusting with his love of foreign travel and passion for haute cuisine, fine wine, theater and opera.

Howard worked extensively on the 1994 revision of the York Antwerp Rules, particularly the 1994 revision, both as chairman of the MLA’s subcommittee on General Average and as a US delegate to the CMI conference in Sydney. He served as our Chairman in 1995-1996 and gave a characteristically scholarly address entitled The American Experience at Sydney: Some Reflections on the York-Antwerp Rules, 1994. His more recent work on the Rules of Practice is appreciated by every Full Member and many outside our membership.

He became a Lifetime Member of the Association in 2006.

Howard died peacefully at home, in his sleep, surrounded by members of the medical team that had ministered to him during a long bout of ill health. A memorial service was held in Manhattan on Friday, March 31st, 2006.

Members wishing to add to this remembrance of Howard are invited to use this link to contact the webmaster. Reminiscences and messages of condolence have been received from numerous colleagues:

From Janusz Fedorowicz, President of AIDE: “not only was Howard a very learned Average Adjuster, he also was a wine expert and I recall that on the occasion of one of our meetings the wine was not quite up to the expectation of his palate so that, gently as usual, he whispered into my ear some comment about what he required to drink.”

Stefano Cavallo, immediate past President of AIDE:

It is with great sorrow and sadness that I learn the passing away of Howard.
I remember that when I joined AIDE he was one of the first to do his best to make me feel at my ease. In particular, when during our GA Assembly in Lisbon I was unexpectedly proposed to become the Treasurer of AIDE (the first step for the Presidency) I was very anxious reluctant to accept. Well, the first encouraging words came just from Howard who was sat near me. He smiled to me and said "don't hesitate , I'm sure you will be a good chairman" . I may assure that this represented for me the real spur to stand up and accept. Also for this reason I will never forget his friendship.
Also on behalf of my father and all the members of Studio Cavallo I ask you to kindly extend my deepest sympathy to the friends of the American Association of the Average Adjusters.
With sincere condolences

Maurice Gesner, Chairman of the Association of Average of Canada: “Until a few years ago, Howard had been a regular visitor to our Association's meetings in Montreal. He will be sadly missed, but not forgotten, by his many friends in Canada. His Average Adjusting knowledge was a credit to our profession.”

Geoffrey Hudson, who celebrated 50 years' membership of the Association of Average Adjusters in 2005, sent the following memorial, with his wife Anne:

HOWARD and PEGGY MYERSON - AN APPRECIATION

I first met Howard when he came to London from Despards to join Lindley’s front office team of David Milburn, John Castle and myself some time in the sixties. The object of the move was to supplement Howard’s knowledge of adjusting - he knew all there was to know based on Great Lakes practice – with international and Bluewater experience. It was very soon evident to us that not only was Howard a quick learner in his tradecraft, but also that he and Peggy had taken to London like ducks to water. Both socially and intellectually alert, Howard and Peggy were delightful people to work with, talk with, and just be with generally.

The next stage of Howard’s professional development took place after his return to the United States. Perhaps because he and Peggy were such enthusiastic travellers, revelling in opportunities for overseas trips, Howard took an early opportunity of joining the International Association of European Average Adjusters (AIDE), even though at that time (the eighties) non-Europeans could only be recognised as Corresponding Members. It’s different now, of course. Fortunate in his wide professional experience and love of foreign travel, Howard became very much in demand to join AIDE committees and working groups, where his knowledge and sagacity became greatly respected.

So far as my own happy working life with Howard and Peggy is concerned, a new and fruitful development took place in January 1989, when Howard accepted my invitation to join Lindleys as our man in New York. Our happy collaboration came on apace during the next five years and culminated when from business partners we became “sparring partners” in the US v. UK contest for the YAR at Sydney in 1994.

Finally, we pay homage to two close friends, the like of whom we shall not see again.

Geoffrey and Anne Hudson

Charles Hebditch, former Chairman of the Association of Average Adjusters, and former President of AIDE: “I was very fond of him and appreciated his little mannerisms and his enjoyment of travel in Europe and of all the good wine and food that can be obtained there. He was also a skilled and knowledgeable adjuster of course.”

Esteban Vivanco, an average adjuster practicing in Argentina: “It is with great sadness I learn of Howard's passing away and would like to express my deepest sympathy to his family for their sad lost. I remember Howard especially for his kindness and generosity from the moment I became a member of [AIDE].”

Edvige Zampichelli Pizzorno, an average adjuster practicing in Italy: "it is with great sorrow that I learnt that Howard Myerson passed away and I would express my deepest sympathy to the Goodfriend family and to the American Association. I remember his professional competence and experience as well as his kindness and his love towards his beloved Peggy. With sincere condolences."

Fellow New York average adjuster Richard Carney contributes this reminiscence: "My clearest recollection of the Myersons had nothing to do with any professional or business relations. Nearly two decades ago I had finished a meeting with London solicitors one fine summer morning. A dinner had been planned for that evening and I had nothing set up for that particular afternoon so I decided to spend it at the National Gallery. In strolling through the galleries, I see Howard and Peggy Myerson. Howard had a meeting planned for the next day and they were taking in an exhibit on the maritime painting of Canaletto and Turner. We contemplated the pictures and remarked how each artist caught the wonder of sea and sky. I had fancied myself something of an aficionado of marine painting, but I enjoyed Howard's thoughts on the subject. Evening came on far too soon and we had to part company. It was time well spent with two delightful people. They will be sorely missed ."

Donald L. Ward - FROM THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

With great sorrow we must report the passing of Life Member Don Ward December 17th 2005 after illness that recently kept him from his work.

Don commenced his employment in the field with the London firm of Clancey & Sons where he became conversant with the basics of adjusting and went on to acquire extensive, practical experience. While smoking his pipe Don often recounted one of his yeoman duties there: stoking the office coal fire first thing in the morning.

During the 1970’s Don crossed the Atlantic in response to the rising demand for readily trained adjusters, as did a number of others from London at that time. He first went to work in New York with the firm of Frank B. Hall, qualifying as a Full Member of our Association. From there he joined Fred S. James, later a part of Sedgwick. In due course he initiated adjusting activities at B & P International while that firm was in its nascent form. Coming full circle, he most recently could be found issuing adjustments from Willis in their New York office.

Don served with distinction on the Membership and Executive Committees of our Association. As a child Don bore direct witness to the Battle of Britain, finding himself in the thick of the London bombings, and, unfortunately, had memories of those times revived as he commuted to the World Trade Center by PATH train, arriving there during the height of the 9/11 attack. Don will be sorely missed. Our sympathies are extended to his family.