Robert V. Van Fossan; Mutual Benefit Life Chairman

Robert V. Van Fossan, 63, chairman and chief executive officer of the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Co. Van Fossan joined the Newark, N.J.-based Mutual Benefit Life as president and chief executive officer in 1972 at the age of 45, becoming the youngest chief executive officer of any major American life insurance company, company officials said. During his stewardship, Mutual grew nearly fivefold to its current base of $11 billion and broadened its traditional life and health insurance base to include a wide range of financial products and services. In Newark on Sunday of cancer.