Robert Joseph Randall, Sr., the first black actuary in the United States, and the first black president of a national insurance company, Intramerica Life, passed away on Tuesday, April 17, 2012 at the age of 90 at Kendal on Hudson, a retirement community in Sleepy Hollow, New York. Robert was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania on April 4, 1922. He was one of seven children born to Phillip J. Clyde Randall and Mary J. Carter Randall. Robert's father was an attorney and the first black admitted to the Allegheny County Bar Association. Robert graduated first in his class from Westinghouse High School in Pittsburg in 1939 and was admitted to Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, the first black to be admitted in twenty years. During World War II, Bob served as a First Lieutenant with one of the most highly decorated units of the military, the Tuskegee Airmen, the fighter escort squadron that never lost a bomber during the entirety of the war. After graduating from Yale, he married Doryce Belle Farrar of Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1946. While studying for a masters degree in mathematics from Columbia University in New York, he was employed by the Mutual of New York Insurance Company, where he passed his actuarial exams and became the first black Fellow of the Society of Actuaries. He later obtained a Masters Degree in Economics from the New School for Social Research in New York City. In 1957, Robert and his family, now consisting of two sons and a daughter, moved from New York City to Norwalk. Bob mentored college students, helping them to become proficient in actuarial studies and seeking employment in the field. His leisure time was focused on tennis, travel and jazz, all of which he enjoyed with his family and friends. Bob had a lifelong love of Chess and he was passionate about the music of Billie Holiday, Bessie Smith and Aretha Franklin. Bob was a quiet, gentle, and kindhearted person, who also possessed the audacity and tenacity it took to be a pioneer for his race. Robert leaves behind his beloved wife of 66 years, Doryce, his two sons, Robert Randall Jr (Antoinette) of Commerce City, Colorado, Peter Randall (Madeline) of Norwalk, Connecticut, his daughter Juliet Randall of Riverdale, New York, his grandchildren, Elizabeth Bailey of New York, Chrstina Randall of Norwalk, Connecticut, step-grandson Mario Flores and great-granddaughter Damaris Flores of Norwalk, Connecticut. A memorial Service will be held on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Hoyt & Cognetta Funeral Home at 5 East Wall Street in Norwalk. Visitation hours will be from 10:00am until 12:00 noon. Norwalk's Hoyt-Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to assist the Randall family with the arrangements. To send a condolence to the family, visit www.norwalkfh.com
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