DR. ROBERT A. ANDERSON

ANDERSON, ROBERT A., DR., DDS, CMDR USN RET. Robert Anderson passed away on October 17, 2010 as a result of lung cancer. Dr. Anderson was born on May 28, 1921 and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from Northwestern University Dental School in 1945. He then entered the United States Navy as a Lieutenant. He married Patricia Tew on February 3, 1945 and they had two daughters, Cynthia and Claudia. His first orders to Sea Duty were aboard the USS Columbus (CA74) a heavy cruiser based in Long Beach, CA. Later the homeport changed to Norfolk, Virginia. This tour included stops along much of the Mediterranean coast and Africa. The next homeport was Plymouth, England where the ship was to assume the duties of Flagship for a four star Admiral in charge of all Naval Forces in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, headquartered in London, England. His family lived in Plymouth while the ship continued to cruise the Mediterranean. Late in 1949 he received orders to shore duty at the U.S. Naval Station in Orange, Texas and the family was on the move again. In 1952 he received orders to take the position of Senior Dental Officer in Command of the Naval Dental Department in Kodiak, Alaska. Pat, Cynthia and Claudia joined him to live for two years in Alaska. While there the family certainly experienced a totally new living environment! In 1954, he was ordered to duty at the San Diego Naval Station Dental Department. When moving to California his family was exposed to a very big change from the weather in Alaska! After one year he received another set of orders to sea duty as the Head of the Dental Department aboard the Destroyer Tender USS Frontier AD25 berthed at Long Beach, CA Naval Station in 1957. His family stayed in San Diego while he served aboard ship. The Frontier was sent west to "West Pac" including; Hawaii, Philippine Islands and Japan. He served aboard ship until 1960 when he retired as a Commander after serving his country honorably for 21 years. Commander Anderson then went into private practice dentistry in the Bank of America Building in downtown San Diego, later moving his office to First Avenue. Dr. Robert Anderson practiced dentistry in San Diego for 20 years and was a member of the Board of Directors of the SD Dental Association. He married his second wife Eleanor (Powell) Wall in 1974, they enjoyed traveling and family gatherings most of all. Dr. Robert Anderson was loved by all those who met him. He was a very kind and generous man, who's loving spirit is a blessing in our lives and a true example for us all. He is survived by his daughters: Cynthia and husband Jack Gavett; Claudia and husband Ted Limpic; grandchildren: Deborah (Gavett) Graetz, Kimberly (Gavett) McClure, Jeremy Limpic, Joel Limpic, Great-Grandchildren Cody McClure, Karlee McClure and Victoria Graetz. His light in our lives will be sorely missed by us all, there is another star in heaven! In lieu of flowers the family requests donations go to San Diego Hospice in his name. Service to be held at Greenwood Memorial Park in the Salli Lynn Chapel on Saturday, October 23rd at 10:00 a.m.