William Anderson Jr.

Dr. William S. Anderson, Jr.

1925 - 2014 WILLIAMSTOWN Dr. William Strong Anderson, Jr., 88, of 540 Water St., died at Berkshire Medical Center on Wednesday, July 16, 2014. Born in Waterveliet, N.Y., on Nov. 25, 1925, he was the son of William and Margaret (Swatling) Anderson. His childhood years were spent in Latham, N.Y., where he earned his Eagle Scout. He served in the World War II European Third Army Infantry and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He was subsequently wounded in combat and received the Purple Heart. After returning from the war, he graduated from Union College with a degree in History, then earned an MA degree in Education /Psychology from Yale University and a Ph.D. in Psychology/Statistics in 1954 at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa and was named an Outstanding Educator of America in 1970. On June 23, 1951, he married the love of his life, Lila Burpee, in Elizabethtown, N.Y. They were married and devoted to each for 63 years. Between the years of 1954 and 1962, he taught at Wintrop College in Rock Hill, S.C., and Alfred University in Alfred, N,Y. In 1962, they settled in Williamstown, where they resided for 52 years. He taught in the Psychology Dept. at North Adams State College (now MCLA) for 26 years, retiring in 1988. He delighted in spending time with his family, gardening, outdoor adventures and travel. He authored several publications in the field of Psychology and Education. He was a Board member of the Northern Berkshire Mental Health Association and the Williamstown House of Local History. He volunteered for Helpline and as a Boy Scout leader. Besides his wife, he is survived by his children, Keith Anderson and his wife, Kimberly, of Latham, N.Y., Karen Friedeborn and her husband, John, of Ithaca, N.Y., and Jill Lloyd and her husband, Todd, of Hartland, Vt.; his brother, Douglas C. Anderson and John Chott; a niece, Lynne Comley; a nephew, William Comley, nine grandchildren and two great-grand children. He was predeceased by his parents and by a sister, Carolyn (Anderson) Comley. There will be a private family service. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Gould Farm, a residential therapeutic community in Monterey, Ma. http://www.gouldfarm.org