Cecil J. Nesbitt, 89; Mathematician Wrote Actuary Science Books

Cecil J. Nesbitt, 89, internationally recognized mathematician in actuary science, died Monday in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Nesbitt, who taught mathematics at the University of Michigan for more than 40 years, published three books. The 1986 “Actuarial Mathematics” is considered the core textbook for actuarial studies. His first book, “Rings With Minimum Conditions,” was written in 1944 and is still in use.

Actuary science utilizes mathematics, statistics and theory to analyze the financial consequences of risk, especially for insurance and pension programs. Nesbitt prepared pension plans for Puerto Rico and Costa Rica and advised Ann Arbor’s pension board for 18 years. During that time, the fund grew from $15 million to more than $182 million.

The professor also served on the International Council for Peace and Justice, the Huron Valley United Nations Group and the Peace Task Force at the First Presbyterian Church in Ann Arbor.