Lawrence (Larry) Brown
Larry Brown was the Miers Busch Professor of Statistics, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, before passing on February 21, 2018, at the age of 77.
He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1990, having achieved recognition for his outstanding work in the foundations of statistics and statistical decision theory. He began his National Academies service with membership on the Board on Mathematical Sciences and Analytics and Committee on Applied and Theoretical Statistics. His first Committee on National Statistics (CNSTAT) project was as a member of the panel, chaired by the late Janet Norwood, that observed the 2000 census, evaluated the results, issued interim and letter reports, and—in 2004—released The 2000 Census: Counting Under Adversity.
The panel focused on the politically charged issue of adjustment of census counts for coverage errors, concluding that the 2000 Accuracy and Coverage Evaluation Program provided invaluable information about the quality of the census results. but that the Census Bureau’s decisions not to adjust the counts were justified. Larry went on to serve as chair or member of the CNSTAT panels that produced Coverage Measurement in the 2010 Census, Envisioning the 2020 Census, and Measuring Research and Development Expenditures in the US Economy.
He also served CNSTAT from 1999–2005 on the advisory committee to CNSTAT’s parent unit, the Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, and on the National Academies’ Report Review Committee. His most recent service was as CNSTAT’s 9th chair, ably leading the committee from July 2010–June 2017.
We will miss his goodwill toward everyone, his unassuming manner that made light of his towering intellect, his devotion to the highest standards of evidence in the work of the National Academies, and his willingness to devote extraordinary time and energy to volunteer service to the Academies in support of its mission to advise the nation.
Sharon Anderson
Sharon Anderson passed away February 8, 2017, at the age of 68. The passing was at home and peaceful. She is survived by her husband of 46 years, Walter Hauck. She and Walter lived in the Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco areas prior to settling in Solebury, Pennsylvania (Bucks County, north of Philadelphia), for the last 23 years.
Sharon earned her bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Douglass College (New Brunswick, New Jersey) and her PhD in statistics from Harvard University. She worked in many positions in industry and academia. Her last, prior to retirement, was as executive director at Bristol-Myers Squibb in Hopewell, New Jersey, and adjunct associate professor at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is best known professionally for her work on bioequivalence, particularly population and individual bioequivalence.
Sharon served on the board of directors, Council of Sections (chair), Biopharmaceutical Section (secretary-treasurer), Biometrics Section (executive committee), and Northeastern Illinois Chapter (president) of the American Statistical Association and on the board of directors for the Society for Clinical Trials.
Sharon and Walter purchased a house on Long Island, Maine, in 2000. Sharon became interested in the history of Long Island and conducted extensive research as her major post-retirement project.
Truc Truong Nguyen
Longtime ASA member Truc Truong Nguyen of McKinney, Texas, passed away December 16, 2017, at the age of 77. He was born to Cuu Truong and Hong Phi Nguyen in Kien An, Vietnam. Truc married Van Thanh Le on November 3, 1974, in Nha Trang, Vietnam. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with his master’s and doctoral degrees and was a mathematics professor at Bowling Green State University for 25 years.
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