Jean-Claude Deville passed away in November 2021 at the age of 77. He was one of the most eminent methodologists at the French statistical office INSEE and above all a world-renowned statistician, specialist in survey theory and author of fundamental developments in the discipline. His works on calibration, balanced sampling and weight share methods had an international impact.
Jean-Claude had been elected member of the ISI in 1979 and was very involved in the activities of the International Association of Survey Statisticians (IASS) of which he was a Council member from 1993 to 1997. In 2018, he was awarded the Waksberg Prize sponsored by the journal Survey Methodology (published by Statistics Canada) and the American Statistical Association; this Prize distinguishes internationally recognized statisticians for their innovative work combining theory and practice in the field of survey methodology. The aura he had at international level was remarkable. As an example, on the occasion of Jean-Claude’s retirement from INSEE in 2009, Yves Tillé organized at the University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland a Symposium on survey methods in honor of Jean-Claude Deville: this event demonstrated how important his prestige was, since a group of statisticians of the highest reputation participated, including John Rao, Wayne, Gad Nathan, Chris Skinner, Ray Chambers, Mike Hidiroglou, or Carl Särndal, with whom Jean-Claude maintained deep friendships and great complicity.
He had a very endearing personality, full of spontaneity and sincerity. He made an impression on those who knew him and he was keen to help his young colleagues by providing informed advice, suggesting original avenues, and creating the conditions for their work to be known and recognized by the scientific community.
Apart from statistics, Jean-Claude had a few passions, chess in the first place, which he practiced at a high level and in competition. He was an extremely curious man, attentive and very cultured. Those who had the privilege of meeting him and talking to him know how endearing he was.
Our community is losing a great colleague.
Jean-Louis Bodin
