Paul Anderson

SANDWICH - Paul Anderson, 49, passed away on Aug. 13, 2007, after a valiant two-year battle against brain cancer.

Commander Anderson was born in Winthrop to the late Philip and Ellen Anderson (McGuillicuddy) of Hingham. The second of six children, he grew up in Hingham and graduated from Hingham High School in 1976. He served in the Marine Corps from 1979 to 1981, and, upon graduation from college, transferred to the Navy and was commissioned an ensign through the Aviation Officer Candidate School. He was designated a Naval Aviator in October 1982.

Commander Anderson held several graduate degrees and numerous military decorations as well as service in Desert Storm, Kosovo and Kuwait. He made seven operational deployments as a Naval Aviator aboard aircraft carriers, USS Kitty Hawk, USS Saratoga, USS Constellation and the USS Nimitz. He also led a Combat Search and Rescue detachment forward deployed in Kuwait.

During his distinguished 24-year career, Commander Anderson accumulated more than 4,000 flight hours in various types of Navy aircraft.

He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Wendie; his daughter, Kristen and son-in-law Charlie Bess of Sandwich, his daughter, Kelli, and a son, Kevan, also of Sandwich; four brothers, Philip of Alexandria, Va., Patrick and Christopher of Quincy, James of East Bridgewater; and a sister, Maryellen Holler of Hingham; and many nieces and nephews.

A wake will be held on Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Nickerson-Bourne Funeral Home, 154 Route 6A, Sandwich, and a funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday at 11 a.m. at Corpus Christi Parish in Sandwich. Interment with full military honors will be held at the Massachusetts National Cemetery immediately following the church service.

Contributions in Paul's memory may be made to the Brain Tumor Society, 124 Watertown St., Suite 3H, Watertown, MA 02472.