Death Notice
RUDD, D’Alton Stafford (Bill)
Bill Rudd died peacefully on January 25, 2021 at his home in London, Ontario with his loving wife Ann (Annie) by his side.
Bill was born November 30, 1929 in Montreal. He met Ann in London tutoring her in math at Western. They married March 8, 1958 and raised two children, Sally and John.
Bill and Ann shared a love of dancing and were known to dance whenever, wherever, especially to big band music. They enjoyed their cottage in Grand Bend where Bill showed an unparalleled love for his lawn and gardens. He loved his books, the Economist magazine, skiing and tennis.
Bill graduated from Ridley College in 1947 and Western in 1951. He went straight to work at London Life as an actuary and rose through the ranks to chief actuary then general manager/COO. He retired in 1980 from London Life. His community life included Chairman of the Board of Education in 1970, the Ontario Pension Commission from 1965-1985, and his favorite passion, politics, as president of the London PC party in the 1970s, eventually running as a candidate for the PC ticket in London in the 1980s.
He is survived by his wife Ann; his children Sally (Chris Hermansen) and their children Carl, Anna, and Grace all of Vancouver, and John (Christine) of Naples, Florida and their children Nicholas of Hightstown NJ, Cameron (Elizabeth) of Atlanta GA and Stephanie of Raleigh NC, and his new great-grandson Parker of Atlanta GA. He is predeceased by his brother Bruce, survived by Liz-Ann Rudd, and nephews Jason, David and niece Jessica.
Private graveside service will take place at Woodland Cemetery, London, Ontario. A celebration of life will be held when permitted. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church, London would be appreciated.
Condolences
Mike and Lou Quayle
January 27, 2021, 9:31 pm
Our deepest sympathy to all of Bill’s family.
I worked at London Life from 1963 and had numerous contacts with Bill in my systems support role. I grew to have great respect and admiration for his intelligence, his knowledge and his character ... most London Lifers shared that opinion. He will be sadly missed but always remembered.
Marion Rogers
January 27, 2021, 10:02 pm
Dear Annie, Sally and John, Please accept my deepest sympathy on your loss of your dear Bill. I am filled w/so many lovely memories of times our family spent w/all the Rudds - beginning with Carolyn and Sally playing in your playpen while we dined on your signature roast lamb dinner and Vic was completing his MBA at Western. DU will shine as Vic and Bill reunite:) I send you all my fondest love.
Marion Rogers, Calgary
Al Otton
January 28, 2021, 8:42 am
So sorry to hear of Bill’s passing. When I first joined London Life’s Information Systems group back in 1964, Bill was one of the key business advisers to our development team. Those were very exciting times: early computer systems had just been transferred to the IBM platform of the day; most thought of those computers as glorified accounting machines, but London Life’s vision was to build complete end-to-end business systems. Bill’s role was to make sure that Actuarial requirements and Policyholder rights were completely and accurately provided. Bill’s role involved such projects as automated premium, dividend, and reserve rate maintenance and calculations; the generation of actuarial statistical abstracts; and many business management and regulatory analyses and reports.
Bill was one of the most brilliant people I ever encountered and a very fine human being as well. He got very involved in reviewing our plans and progress, providing quite detailed requirements. I recall on at least one occasion he asked me to just send him our source code and he would review it. On more than a few occasions, he would peak our attention (or check to see if we were listening) by throwing a bit of Latin or Greek into the mix.
The London Life approach gained renown as globally leading through industry conferences and various other channels. There were many visits from USA, European, and Australian insurers wanting to learn what this was all about.
In later years, we each found ourselves at Grand Bend residences and it was always a pleasure to meet at the grocery store and renew acquaintances.
My sincerest condolences to all of Bill’s family on your great loss.
Jay and Jane Jeffery
January 28, 2021, 9:07 am
Bill Rudd was a man of great character and deep personal integrity, supplemented by his brilliance as an actuary and dogged perseverance in the face of seemingly impossible odds.
These characteristics were exemplified in his discovery and initiation of the Rudd/Jeffery class action lawsuit concerning improper use of London Life policyowner funds. Ultimately the courts declared the transaction illegal; never to be repeated. In a less widely known example Bill fought and won a long, lonely battle at senior federal levels to correct an obscure technical tax loophole which several major Canadian multinational insurers were exploiting to avoid paying their share, or indeed any, Canadian income tax.
To Bill, integrity and fairness always trumped popularity.
Those who knew Bill enjoyed his gentlemanly manner and his sharp wit, and benefited greatly from his example.
To Ann and the family, our sincere condolences, and our gratitude for sharing Bill with us and the world.
Jay and Jane Jeffery
Beverley Hutchison
January 30, 2021, 4:37 pm
A wonderful , meaningful obituary. Well done, John, Sally , & Ann.
I was at Western with Ann , & we shared many classes, where she told me about her handsome math tutor . They had dates playing bridge with Bill’s friends, going to the Mustang football games, but I don’t think they went to the fraternities after, the games. Ann & I shared suppers at “ Happy Hours “, while at the U, and years later, we shared many leg of lamb dinners ! And the joint was gone, just like that ! Ann & Bill were a very happy couple , always fun to be with , and they enjoyed a party, especially, if there was dancing . Rest In Peace, my friend, you have earned it ! Take care, Ann, sending love & hugs, Bev.
Louise Good
February 3, 2021, 10:20 pm
Dear John,
You might not remember me but I met you, mostly through emails, from Ryerson’s 100th anniversary. But I certainly remember yours and your father’s most generous gift of the beautiful sign for Ryerson. I admire it every time I drive by the school.
It was with sadness that I read about your father’s passing – I had only met him on a couple of occasions, once being invited to your parents’ home for a happy hour with my sister Mary Ellen Kirk.
I was also reminded of his wonderful David & Goliath battle with Great West Life by the wonderful article in the London Free Press. What a wonderful example he must have been for you and your sister for his honesty and passion for justice.
How lucky your parents were to have so many years together and what sounds like a wonderful marriage. Your mother will miss him terribly….
Please accept my condolences and extend them to your mother and the rest of the family.
Roger Ratz
February 9, 2021, 2:41 pm
We would like to extend our sincere condolences to the Rudd family.
We got to know Bill and Anne after meeting them several years ago in Grand Bend. We always appreciated Bills dry sense of humour, his charming personality, his intellect and knowledge of current events, politics and history.
We especially want to thank Anne for the many lovely visits we had with her and Bill, both in Grand Bend and London. You were always a very classy couple!
Also Anne, I personally will miss Bills political commentary. As former Mayor of Shipka, those views were always important to me!
Our best wishes to all of you as you move forward in life.
Roger and Belle Ratz
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