was dysfunctional and at himself, had inserted. But, bachelor’s degree in math- Northern: one for men and
odds with the clinical research to the merriment of all, he ematics from the University one for women. Because
function. He developed and succeeded in convincing the of Manitoba in 1929. Upon Loutit had mathematical
implemented his concepts of audience that his colleague, graduation, there were only and technical expertise, her
multifunctional team sup- who was chairing the session, three avenues of employment manager appointed her as an
port for clinical research and had sabotaged him. Still, open to women: teaching, engineer, though Northern
built Technical Operations each of the points in his talk nursing, and secretarial work. Electric did not have a differ-
into a highly productive, were clearly conveyed and Loutit went into teaching. ential pay scale for engineers.
highly collaborative, and well understood. He believed During World War II, She remained an ‘engineer’
widely admired organization. laughter, fun, and good qual- she responded to an adver- throughout her career at
Cummings was a strong ity work were completely tisement for women in the Northern Electric, eventually
believer in the responsibil- compatible with strong and sciences, mathematics, and taking on managerial respon-
ity of the statistician to serve powerful leadership. He was physics to help engineers sibilities. She retired in 1972.
science and ethics in drug an advocate for the colleagues who were testing equip- Loutit was active in the
development. With a pas- within his organization ment and material for the American Society for Quality
sion for clear communica- and had a sense of fairness war effort. She was hired Control and was the pro-
tion, he revised numerous that may be unequaled. as a quality control statisti- gram chair for the Quality
drafts of reports to ensure the Cummings relocated cian at Northern Electric, Control All-Day Forum run
truth of the data was accu- to Clarksville in 1997. In now Northern Telecom, in by the Montréal Section.
rately conveyed. Although addition to being a sailing Montréal. Later, she became To read more about her life,
he spent only two years as enthusiast, he enjoyed golf a government employee visit www.amstat.org/about/
a formal teacher of statis- and delighted in his grand- for Northern Electric. statisticiansinhistory. n
tics, he always served as an children. He is remembered During that time, there
educator and mentor for by his family as “the most were two pay scales at
the statisticians he led. honest, most fair, and smart-
He was an active member est man they will ever know”
of the American Statistical and as a person who “did
Association, the Society for not waste any of his days.”
Clinical Trials, the Drug Cummings volunteered with
Information Association, the Merifield Landowners
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and the Pharmaceutical Association, the Heritage
Research and Manufacturers Foundation, the Cove
Association (PhRMA). Project, and the revitaliza-
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He was chair of the tion of Clarksville. He was
Biostatistics Subsection of Citizen of the Year in 1999.
PhRMA from 1981–1984, His vision included what was
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co-chair of Southern best for Clarksville as a whole.
your ASA membership.
Regional Education Board’s
Committee on Statistics
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from 1984–1985, and co-
Obituary
chair of the Midwestern
Biopharmaceutical Statistics
Isobel Loutit Members Only site!
Workshop in 1983. Isobel Loutit,
Above all, Cummings one of the
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was a master of mirth. He first women
was exceptionally skilled at to work pro-
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creating situations where fessionally as and JSTOR subscriptions with one easy
constructive fun was to be a statistician
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had in the workplace. He in Canada,
Loutit
had a keen sense of humor passed
Learn about partner discounts from Wiley,
and a wonderful instinct for away April
practical jokes that lightened 19, 2009. On July 18,
CRC Press, and others
the moment but did not she would have celebrated
detract from the sense and her 100th birthday.
Join ASA member forums
mission of the group effort Loutit was born in Selkirk,
For instance, he once gave a Manitoba, in July of 1909.
Read the e-news archive
talk at a statistical meeting She was one of four women
with bogus slides that he, who graduated with a www.amstat.org/membersonly
JUNE 2009 AmstAt News 63
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