Gerald R. Anderson

Gerald R. Anderson, 91, of Worcester, died Sunday, October 26, 2008 at the Knollwood Nursing Center.

He leaves his wife of 25 years Lillian A. (Sharpe) Rice Anderson; two sons, Michael G. Anderson and his companion Sonny of Harwich and Stephen R. Anderson and his wife Linda of Worcester, a daughter, Jean M. Landry and her husband Richard of Oxford; seven grandchildren, Patrick, Peter, Christine and John Anderson, Michelle Anderson, and Juli and Kelley Austin; A brother, Herbert Anderson, and a sister Eileen wife of Nils Granfors, both of Worcester. His first wife, Mary F. (King) Anderson, died in 1978. He was predeceased by three brothers, Paul Anderson of and Ernest Anderson, both of Worcester, and Robert Anderson of Pittsfield.

He was born in Worcester and lived in Worcester all his life. He was a 1934 graduate of Classical High School and a 1938 graduate of the College of the Holy Cross.

Mr. Anderson was a sales executive for the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. for more than 50 years. He became a Chartered Life Underwriter in 1955 and received the company's National Quality Award for 25 consecutive years. He belonged to several professional organizations.

Mr. Anderson had a long and illustrious career in amateur golf, beginning with the 1933 State Caddy Championship and the 1935 State Junior Championship. He played varsity golf at Holy Cross for three years, and his team won the New England college championship twice.

He competed on the highest levels of amateur golf in New England and beyond, and was a scratch golfer for 22 years. In 1941, he won the State Public Links Championship and played in the U.S.G.A. National Amateur tournament in Seattle, Wash. He played with Paul Harney in the 1962 Bing Crosby National Pro-Am Tournament at Pebble Beach. He won multiple club championships at Green Hill Golf Club and Wachusett Country Club over four decades. He won the State Senior Championship in 1967 at Wellesley Country Club. He won the 1974 senior club championship at Worcester Country Club.

From 1964 through 1974, he was the Holy Cross golf coach. With Walter Cosgrove, he ran the Telegram & Gazette Hole-In-One Contest at Green Hill for several years.

He was a member of Immaculate Conception Parish, where he was a lector and Eucharistic Minister and a former member of Blessed Sacrament Parish, where he was a lector, Eucharistic minister, CCD teacher and a member of the Parish Council.

He was a member of the Holy Cross Athletic Hall of Fame. He was class agent and a former president of the Holy Cross Varsity Club. He was a member and also past president of the Holy Cross Club of Worcester which named him the 1966 Crusader of the Year. He was also a member of the Purple Knights and the President's Council.

Mr. Anderson was a member of Worcester Country Club which has named an annual Fall Member-Guest Tournament in his honor. He was a member of the Hickory Shafts and a supporter of the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund. He was also a member of the Alumni Sodality of Our Lady and the First Friday Club.

The funeral Mass will be Wednesday, October 29 at 11 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church, 353 Grove St., Worcester. Burial will follow in St. John's Cemetery. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Briarwood Residents Assistance Fund, 65 Briarwood Cir., Worcester 01606 or a charity of one's choice.

The Athy Memorial Home, 111 Lancaster St., Worcester, is directing arrangements.