George C. VanDusen III
We’ve lost a great friend. The brokerage industry mourns the recent passing of one of its master craftsmen and innovators—George C. Van Dusen, III. George’s battle with a debilitating illness ended peacefully at home with his wife Diane and children Chip and Tori.
George grew up on Lake Minnetonka and went to prep school in New York before graduating from Dartmouth College in 1957. After serving in the National Guard he set his first foot in the insurance business with the Charles Sexton property/casualty agency in Minneapolis. In 1969 he left to join Jim Trainor at another property/casualty shop, Diversified Insurance Services, heading up the development of life and health brokerage for the agency. There was born George’s dedication to brokerage, and by 1971 he had formed Diversified Brokerage Services, Inc., specializing in the brokerage distribution of life insurance, annuities, LTC insurance and disability income products through independent financial services professionals as well as career agents and registered representatives.
Through George’s dedication to brokerage (the best way to meet the needs of the consumer) combined with his visionary adoption and development of technological solutions and innovative marketing approaches, DBS has grown today to be one of the most respected brokerage general agencies in the country. His groundbreaking exploration of technology, such as the electronic pending business system he helped develop in 1974, provided the framework for many of the platforms and processes the industry uses today. Just one example of his pioneering marketing acumen is event underwriting—inviting home office representatives to Minneapolis to underwrite and examine applications and in many cases issue policies and pay commissions on the spot.
George was a member of the study group Life, Inc. since 1975 and was a charter member of LifeMark Partners, one of the industry’s most productive and prestigious marketing groups. In the words of LifeMark President Nancy Bosley, “He was instrumental in setting the tone of professionalism and integrity that has helped lead our organization to the level of industry prominence we now enjoy.”
He was a founding member of the brokerage industry’s most important group, the National Association of Independent Life Brokerage Agencies (NAILBA), served five years on the board, and was chairman of the organization in 1994. In 2008 he was the recipient of the Douglas Mooers Award for Excellence, NAILBA’s highest honor, which recognizes those individuals who have demonstrated a lifetime of service not only to the life insurance business and to the wholesale brokerage community, but also through their contributions and service to one’s fellow man and to society in general. He was also NAILBA’s liaison to ACORD, the insurance industry nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the way insurance companies do business through the use of technology. His involvement led him to be elected to that organization’s board of directors in 2001, where he oversaw the development of standards for the life and financial services industries. In 2004 he was re-elected and appointed chair of ACORD’s finance and audit committee.
He received the G. Bennett Serrill award for lifetime achievement in 2011, presented by the Minnesota NAIFA (National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors) chapter. The award is to honor the finest type of individual in all dimensions of his living, and a person who consistently has brought honor and respect to the insurance industry and their community.
Van Dusen was active in many organizations outside the insurance industry both in his community and nationally. He was an early and active member of the Minneapolis Junior Chamber of Commerce, chairing two committees and developing new members. He joined the Masonic order and became a 32nd degree member of the Scottish Rite. He served for many years as a board member of a local settlement house now known as Pillsbury-Waite Neighborhood Services. He and Diane joined the congregation of Saint Albans Episcopal Church in Edina.
He was an avid hunter and fisherman, loved reading, golf and spending time with his family. Long-time friend Barbara Crowley remembers George: “He was the best of the best! He was a close family friend, a mentor, an innovator and a tireless industry promoter. He had the foresight to invest in the future. He made you laugh and he made you think. My family will miss him very much.”
George was a staunchly loyal friend to the Howards and to Broker World. I’ll miss his candor, his humor and all the great stories about the early days working with any number of luminaries to secure brokerage’s place in the insurance industry.
George Van Dusen was truly an icon—none have worked more diligently to further our industry. [SPH]
(Memorial donations welcomed to the National Kidney Foundation or the American Diabetes Association.)
