Jon Charles Baskerville, who passed away in London, Ontario on April 16, 2022, at the age of 81, was known for his excellent work and dedication as a statistical consultant. He made foundational contributions to the professional accreditation program of the SSC in the areas of ethics, professional development, and mentoring. Jon served faithfully on several early SSC accreditation committees as the SSC was developing its accreditation program. His work helped lay the foundation for members of the SSC to become accredited, and to use the designations of A.Stat.(Associate Statistician) and P.Stat. (Professional Statistician).
Born in Deposit, New York, Jon’s vocation as a statistician became apparent at a young age when he collected and analyzed data about which cows won the race in from the fields at night.
In 1965, armed with a master’s degree, he began his academic career teaching mathematics at Ithaca College. In 1970, he registered for a PhD at a nearby school, Cornell, and completed his thesis under the supervision of Professor D. L. Solomon in 1973.
Jon joined the Department of Mathematics at the University of Western Ontario in 1972. At the time, statistics was housed in two different departments at the university. In 1977, the statisticians were brought together under one roof in the Department of Mathematics. At the same time, a statistical consulting service (STATLAB) was formally instituted. Jon, already involved in statistical consulting activities, took a prominent role in STATLAB. He became the assistant director for statistical consulting in the new unit, where he developed the process of providing statistical advice, design, and analysis to engineers, scientists, and clinicians on campus, and to businesses off campus. He developed graduate courses in statistical consulting in which students learned the principles and ethics of consulting and his practice of working with clients in STATLAB. By 1980, Jon left Western to work in the private practice of statistical consulting, but later in the decade was called back to work as manager of statistical consulting in STATLAB, which was now housed in the Department of Statistical and Actuarial Sciences, formed in 1980. Jon retired from Western in the late 1990s.
On the academic side as a statistical consultant, Jon published several research articles with medical faculty members with whom he collaborated. On the professional side with the SSC, Jon was the author or coauthor of several SSC publications related to the professional accreditation program.
In addition to his talents as a statistician, Jon had a wonderful singing voice. He sang in his church choir and, with his wife Barb, gave duet concert performances at nursing and retirement homes.
Respectfully submitted,
David Bellhouse and John Koval
Jon's work with SSC accreditations
Jon Baskerville was a very humble, quiet, persistent man of great personal integrity who made foundational contributions to the Statistical Society of Canada (SSC) accreditation program in the areas of ethics, professional development, and mentoring. Jon served faithfully on multiple early SSC accreditation committees: the joint professional development-accreditation committee, accreditation implementation committee, interim accreditation committee, and the initial accreditation appeals committee.
Jon was the primary author of “The Statistical Society of Canada Code of Ethical Statistical Practice” (Appendix D of the SSC accreditation legal document) which was originally used as a promotional brochure and is now a promotional flyer. Adherence to the Code of Ethical Statistics Practice is required by all SSC accredited members.
Jon was co-primary author with Sheryl Bartlett of “Guidelines for Professional Development” (Appendix C of the SSC accreditation legal document). Jon was also primary author of “Guidelines for SSC Mentorship Program for Accredited Statisticians” approved at the October 2004 SSC board; this document is still distributed to A.Stat. mentees and P.Stat. mentors.
It was a great pleasure to work with this stalwart supportive man; Jon will be greatly missed. His legacy definitions of SSC accreditation ethics and professional development, along with generations of directional impact in mentoring the early careers of A.Stat. endure.
Respectfully submitted,
Judy-Anne Chapman, PhD. P.Stat. (002), Chair of the Interim and the Initial Accreditation Committees