Edward H. Anderson

Anderson, Edward H.
Edward H. Anderson, dearly beloved husband of Valerie D. Anderson died Sunday, August 5, of pulmonary heart disease complicated by a fall which broke seven ribs. He had been home 6 days after spending two months at Nathaniel Witherell recovering from an operation to repair a broken hip resulting from a previous fall on Memorial Day. Born in New York City on August 19, 1922, Edward was a World War II Veteran who served in a topographic unit overseas in Europe. He celebrated VE Day in Paris. Devoted to the Army, he remained in the Army Reserves for over 20 years, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. After the war, he finished college, earning a Master's Degree at New York University in Industrial Engineering. He worked as an engineer for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in New York City. Later he worked for Reeves Instrument Company, then Timex Corporation where he was Supervisor of Research and Development. Upon retirement from Timex, he was Administrator of the Boy Scout Camp Seton in Greenwich, becoming a consultant for the Scout office overseeing engineering and architectural projects. Much of this work was voluntary. An active scouter since 1957, he was awarded the 50-year award in 2007. Other Scouting Awards were: Order of the Arrow Arrowhead Honor Award; Order of the Arrow Vigil Honor (2002); National Order of the Arrow Committee, BSA (1997); Wood Badge Assistant Course Director (2001). Edward also received the following Greenwich Council Volunteer awards: Greenwich Scouter Award (1969); Silver Beaver Award (1976); District Award of Merit (1997). He held numerous positions in the Greenwich Council, BSA: Board of Directors including Executive Committee Service (1977-1987; 1990-1996; 2001-2012) Council Vice President (1987-1989) Activities Committee Chair (1975-1978) Camp Committee Chair (1999) Leadership Training Chair (1988-1989) Leaders Recognition Dinner Chair and Master of Ceremonies ((1975; 1977-1979; 1982-1983) Campmaster Corp. Member (1994-1997) Council Commissioner (1980-1985) Unit/Neighborhood Commissioner (1966-1970) Roundtable Commissioner (1974) Boy Scout Roundtable Commissioner (1972-1974) Honorary Commissioner (1989-1996) Consulting Engineer for Greenwich Council (2001-2011)
In 2003 the maintenance Building at Ernest Thompson Seton was named in his honor, which was affixed with a plaque bearing his name (Thereafter known as "Ed's Shed.") Ed was also a member of the Retired Men's Association, earning an award in 2003 for the most volunteer hours performed by any member of the organization. A loyal devoted family man, Ed declined business travel opportunities to remain available for his family and his children's' special occasions and readily volunteered to help friends. He was a creative engineer who could fix and build anything. If an object was not repairable he'd invent a better one to replace it. He determinedly found any missing items. These endearing qualities earned him the family nickname of "Edward the Perfect," a title he acknowledged with good humor and (almost) always lived up to. After his son and daughter earned their respective graduate degrees, he and Valerie (a retired Greenwich fifth grade teacher), took a month's cruise to Australia, stopping at Tahiti, Bora Bora, New Zealand, and Hawaii. On their next trip to Spain they bought an apartment overlooking the Mediterranean in Torremolinos on the Costa del Sol and between about 25 other cruises, returned to Spain for about 3 months annually. He and Valerie cheerfully hosted about 40 formal New Years' Eve parties until 2006, when increasing age no longer made the experience so cheerful. Ed worked full time as a consultant for the Boy Scouts until 2010, when his health quickly deteriorated. We are grateful he had so many accomplishments and enjoyable memories, and are privileged to have had such a remarkable (perfect?) man in our family. We are so very grateful for the continuing support of our many friends. Edward is survived by his wife, Valerie, his two children of whom he was very proud: Dr. Peter Lloyd Anderson and his wife, Jan, of Bridgewater, CT, and Colonel Wendy A. Kelly (who enjoyed outranking her father) and her husband LTC Steven Kelly, and four grandchildren Kate and Kristie Anderson, and Edward and Erika Kelly. A Celebration of Ed's Life will be held at the Woman's Club of Greenwich, 89 Maple Avenue, Saturday August 18 (the day before Ed's 90th Birthday) from2-5 pm. Please dress cheerfully!
Instead of flowers, the family would appreciate donations sent to the Greenwich Boy Scout Council, 63 Mason Street, Greenwich, CT 06830. Telephone (203) 869-8424.