CORNISH — Carol Ann Rennie of 60 Old Stage Coach Rd, Cornish New Hampshire died at King Street Rehab Center in Rye Brook, New York on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. She was 79 years old.
Born near Boston, Massachusetts, the daughter of Grace G. Rennie (nee Murphy) and Ivie Howatt Rennie, Carol spent her early youth in California, and moved back to Boston where she spent much of her adult life. Her business career also took her to New York, Barbados, and Bermuda, before retiring to New Hampshire in 1995.
Carol graduated with a B.A. in retail management from Simmons University, formally Simmons College, in 1961. She was a leader in the Simmons community, having served on the board of trustees, Simmons Leadership Council, and the Alumnae Association Executive Board. While a member of the Simmons Board of Trustees, she was on the Executive, Student Affairs, and Academic Affairs committees. In recognition of her work with the college, the Carol Rennie Endowed Scholarship was established in 1997. Her time at Simmons had a major impact on her. She became a passionate advocate for female education and opportunity.
Carol spent her entire career in reinsurance, including stints as an underwriter at New England Reinsurance and as a broker at E. W. Blanch. In 1981, she joined John Hancock Reinsurance in Boston as president and chief underwriting officer. After John Hancock Insurance exited the reinsurance business in 1988, Carol joined Centre Reinsurance in Barbados. She worked for Center Re in Barbados, Bermuda, and New York as an underwriter and later became president of Constellation Reinsurance Company and Centre Life Reinsurance Company.
Carol also served on the Boards of United Educators Insurance Risk Retention Group of Burlington, Vermont from 1991 to 2008, serving on the Underwriting, Executive, Audit and Finance Committees.
She earned her Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation in 1974. In 1982, she was named the Association of Professional Insurance Women’s Woman of the Year. She worked throughout her career to mentor and advocate for professional women in the insurance industry.
In addition to her professional career, Carol served on the school board in Cornish.
Carol’s was a voracious reader, an avid bridge player and a music lover, from opera to Neil Diamond — she was an active supporter of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. She loved art and animals, particularly, cats and corgis.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Carol’s memory may be made to the Cornish Rescue Squad or the Lucy MacKenzie Humane Society in West Windsor, Vermont.
Carol is survived by many close and loving friends and those who thought of her as “aunt” Carol.
A memorial service will be held at St. John’s Church, 4 Fountain Square, Larchmont, New York at 11 a.m. on Dec. 5, 2018.
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