Charles Edgar “Chuck” Gates

Charles Edgar “Chuck” Gates, 89, of Bryan, Texas, died peacefully September 8, 2015, at his residence.

An ASA Fellow and longtime member, Gates was born March 6 in Rapid City, South Dakota. He was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War and worked as a statistician and professor at the University of Minnesota for 10 years, and then for 28 years at Texas A&M University. His specialties were in experimental design, wildlife abundance estimation, and agricultural application. During his career, he was an editor of The American Statistician and travelled extensively, visiting 79 countries over the course of his life.
Following his retirement, Gates served as an income tax volunteer for the AARP and was a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church. His other interests included playing bridge, collecting stamps, playing tennis, bicycling, and dancing.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by three daughters: Greta Watkins and husband, Randy, of Bryan, Texas; Gail Gates of Stillwater, Oklahoma; and Glenda Honea and husband, Robert, of Danville, Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Hospice of Brazos Valley, Covenant Presbyterian Church, or the Alzheimer’s Association.

Alvan “Al” Zarate

Alvan “Al” Zarate passed away August 27, 2015, at Washington Hospital Center due to complications from treatment for pancreatitis. He was 78.

Al worked for the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) as a confidentiality officer who was dedicated to protecting the confidentiality of NCHS survey respondents. In 2008, he was elected fellow of the American Statistical Association. A year later, he received the NCHS Program Mission Support Award for his leadership in the field of data privacy and confidentiality.

Al earned a PhD from Brown University and taught sociology/demography at The University of Texas, Tulane, and Ohio State before joining NCHS in 1978.

Al was also a talented musician who loved to play the guitar and sing—which he often did at NCHS. In the last several years, he sang with the Bowie Senior Chorale and was a member its smaller traveling group, the Choraleers, who did special performances throughout the Bowie community. He loved performing and the community. Al was always happy when he had a guitar in his hand.

To read more about Al’s life or make a memorial contribution to charities Al supported, visit the memorial networks obituary page.