ANDERSON, Al Al (Elbert Allan) Anderson, was born on July 13, 1943, in Cleveland, Ohio, and died on October 11, 2020, in Troy, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his parents, Martin Luther Anderson and Gertrude Frances Sousa Anderson, his brother and sister-in-law Martin and Ruth Ann Anderson and his niece Suzie Anderson. He was deeply loved and will be sorely missed by: his wife, Nancy Reichert Anderson; children Richard Anderson (Lara Fitzgerald), Julie Clendenen, Lachlan Anderson; grandchildren Alexandra (Jeff) Lape, Jacqueline Clendenen, Hailee Anderson, Luke Clendenen, Lauren Clendenen, Karley Anderson and Christopher Anderson; many nieces and nephews and sisters and brothers-in-law. He included in his family many AA friends who loved and supported him through more than 36 years of recovery. He was a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and The Ohio State University. He had several careers in his life including teaching at Troy High School and working as a stock broker for Salomon Smith Barney. His love of history led him to open and operate Anderson Americana, an online and mail auction selling historical memorabilia. He enjoyed heirloom tomatoes, saving and sharing seeds through Seed Savers Exchange. He was passionate about social justice and spent most of his life seeking equality for all humankind. Al was a lover of all things FUN, including baseball (especially the Cleveland Indians), travel (he visited all 50 states and many foreign countries), and Amusement Parks (especially roller coasters). In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Hospice of Miami Valley Ohio (Troy, Ohio), The Carter Center (Atlanta, Georgia) or Equal Justice Initiative (Montgomery, Alabama). Al donated his body to Wright State Medical School, but a memorial service is planned for Saturday, October 17, at 11:30 am at First Presbyterian Church, 20 S Walnut St., Troy, Ohio. The family will receive friends starting at 11:00am before the service and afterwards in the Walnut St. vestibule. Masks are required and the church is marked for social distancing.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Dayton Daily News from Oct. 14 to Oct. 15, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for Al ANDERSON

24 Entries

David Nolan

October 8, 2024

Not a year goes by that we do not reflect on our Chautauqua trip and how Al made such a wonderful contribution to it. Rest in peace, and thank you again.

--David Nolan and Darien Andreu
St. Augustine, FL

Rick Reynolds

September 2, 2024

Al was supportive of my work with AA and homeless people. I haven't been paying attention to my political items, so dug them out and thought about my friend in Ohio. So sorry to learn of his passing, God grant peace to the extended family. Rick in Seattle

Roger Yepsen

March 6, 2023

I knew Al only through our Seed Savers Exchange communication. He flattered me by saying I was ordering especially good tomato varieties (not that I now much about heirlooms), and invariably he would send free packets of those he liked. When he disappeared from the SSE catalog, I feared for him. Am very sorry to come across this obituary. He was someone I wish I'd gotten to know better.

David Nolan

December 18, 2020

We had the great good fortune to meet Al at Chautauqua in 2019 and he took us to two programs at the nearby Jackson Center in Jamestown, NY to hear lectures. He was one of the nicest people we ever met, and he kept up with us afterwards. He was full of fascinating information about political history. Covid has kept us homebound, but we always hoped we could visit with him again. Farewell, old friend: we are so glad to have crossed paths!
David Nolan and Darien Andreu

Patrick Reddy

December 1, 2020

He was a great teacher and great student of history of many things -- America, baseball, politics and culture. And I certainly enjoyed his auctions of cool Americana items! I hope his legacy lives on....

Thomas Slater

November 8, 2020

Al was literally my oldest friend in the political hobby, having introduced me to the APIC and the wonderful fraternity of political collectors back in 1967. It changed my life irrevocably, as I have since spent most of my professional life immersed in this very special community. Eventually we would become competing auctioneers and dealers (albeit always friendly ones), but we retained our comradery even as we enjoyed spirited, but always good-natured politcal debates (we sat firmly on opposite sides of the political fence)! I will mourn Al's passing and miss him greatly, as will hundreds of friends and admirers in the political collecting field across the county.

Jay Meyer

November 7, 2020

I’m so blessed to have known Al. He was one in a million. His legacy will live on through the many lives he impacted...especially mine.

Gregory Holobaugh

November 3, 2020

Mr. Anderson was the most extraordinary teacher of my life. His love of history, and the lessons that might be learned, was infectious. Because of him, I considered new ways of looking at history, taking more account of sociological factors and what has become known as intellectual history. He also helped me to appreciate and try to understand those peoples who were not on the winning side of history. As a teacher he was a kind of entertainer: I listened to every word and I frankly adopted a lifelong interest in things that he enjoyed, like great films and Orson Welles in particular. He was an inspirational man and he was judged the outstanding teacher from my high school class of 1973.

I planned to look up Mr. Anderson after the pandemic passed. While I feel his loss bitterly, the hole that he has left in his family and close friend must be unfathomable.

Philip Royer - (pb9)

October 29, 2020

My condolences to Al's family, David Linderman and Al's many friends. May the love you shared and the memories made bring you comfort in the days ahead. Al was one of my Social Studies teachers at Troy High School in 1968. During our spring break of that year, Al and I went to Wisconsin to volunteer on behalf of Senator Eugene McCarthy's Democratic Presidential Primary Campaign. During those days a friendship developed along with my interest in politics and I began collecting political memorabilia as a result of Al and his knowledge of collecting political campaign items. Al had spent some time working for the A.G. Trimble Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania which manufactured political campaign items while he was attending the University of Pittsburgh. In 1972, while still teaching, Al started Anderson Americana and held his first political memorabilia auction. Over the past fifty-two years we remained friends and I have been a consigner and a bidder in his numerous auctions. " The comfort of having a friend may be taken away, but not that of having had one" - Seneca

Rory Metcalf

October 26, 2020

Mr. Anderson was my teacher for both history and film classes, and his influence has carried throughout the years. I have indelible memories from his classes—his unforgettable first-day lesson on the subjectivity of written history, his post-test treat of a trivia competition from Questions from the Rockpile, the hilarious Howard Keel debates with a film student. The last four years have made me think of him periodically, interested in his take on this norm-shredding era.

Thank you for this extensive tribute—a student only gets a narrow view of a teacher as a human being, and knowing more about Mr. Anderson reminds me how lucky I was to be one of his students.

Condolences to all those who miss him. May his memory be a blessing.

Lynne Rodrian

October 19, 2020

Mr. Anderson was my history teacher and is one of two of the best and favorite teachers I encountered from grade school through college years. I have thought of him often since his class. He was inspirational and gave me a true love of history. My heart goes out to his friends and family. He will be missed.

Jo Flanagan

October 18, 2020

Al was a wonderful friend and kind person. I always enjoyed how curious he was about everything. He and my husband were long time Cleveland Indian fans having daily conferences and laments on the phone about the current state of their beloved team. Al cared about everyone and will be missed greatly.

October 18, 2020

Al was such a pleasure to be around. Al was a friend to many. Al had an unbelieveable collection of Presidential and political campaign memorabilia. Al was a member of the A.P.I.C., American Political Item Collectors. I remember one year Al and I pulled our political and presidential campaign memorabilia together and did a big display throughout the Troy Hayner Cultural Center here in Troy, OH. Rest In Peace Al. You will be greatly missed!

John Lindemuth

October 16, 2020

Al was a friend, an historian, a peacemaker and a grand individual. I’ll miss him greatly while I remember him as a good and decent man. Goodbye my friend.

Cindy Wilson Dillard

October 16, 2020

Nancy and Family, so very sorry for your loss. Al was a wonderful person. He was my dad's (Bob Wilson) best friend for so many years. They talked on the phone every day and our family will never forget his kindness and friendship. Love and Prayers for your family. May his experience, hope and courage inspire others to gain and keep sobriety.

Mark Potter

October 15, 2020

I had Mr. Anderson for high school history. I was, and still am, a huge history buff. Mr. Anderson was one of the best teachers I have ever had. He was a teacher I would proudly call my friend.

Philip G Frasure

October 15, 2020

So many times over the years I would run into Al on the street or in a store and he always had a kind and witty word. We both loved baseball and made our bold predictions about the Reds and Indians. A true gentleman. He will be missed.

Michael Gruber

October 14, 2020

Patricia Dungy

October 14, 2020

May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.

Mark Scroggins

October 14, 2020

Al was a scholar and a gentleman - a real prince of a guy! His knowledge was encyclopedic, but I will always remember him for his kindness , generosity, and fine attitude. Out deepest condolences to his family and David.

Gary Widmann

October 14, 2020

He was such a fair and kind man. A true Gentleman. I am one of many political collectors. His knowledge and his friendship will be missed. God Bless him and his family Gary Widmann from South Dakota

Eve Cusac-Seale

October 14, 2020

Mr. Anderson always made history class fun and interesting. I always enjoyed history class with him! My sincere condolences to his family.

Donald Wayne Hardman

October 14, 2020

One great friend and my Cleveland Indian’s partner!

Ron Pimentel

October 14, 2020

I never met Al although we were e-Mail friends for 20+ years. His knowledge of political memorabilia was tops; however, his willingness to "educate" was what I will always remember. We, "in the hobby" will never forget Al and I, personally, treasure making his acquaintance.

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