Geraldine Baker Anderson

Anderson, Geraldine (Geri) was born on February 20, 1935 to Norman and Ella Baker in Healdsburg, California. Geri was a country girl with a city heart and she was awarded a full scholarship to attend Humboldt State University, California.Geri graduated at the top of her class. Studying law was her first love, but her path led her to a dedicated career as an educator. Geri began her career teaching elementary school, specializing in reading comprehension, where she cherished one on one interactions with her students. Career advancement placed her as a principal and later as assistant superintendent for Wade Thomas Elementary school in San Anselmo California. Upon retiring, Geri moved to Ashland Oregon after falling in love with the area on vacation. The Ashland Shakespeare Festival was a deciding factor in her commitment to Ashland. For many years Geri volunteered at the Shakespeare Festival Gift Shop. Blending her love of teaching and traveling Geri enrolled in the Peace Corps in 1995 and went to Slovakia for two years teaching 5 levels of English. Geri embraced every cultural adventure and toured extensively through Scotland, Germany, France, Switzerland and Greece. Geri shared this passion with her daughters and spent the summer of 1970 with Leah and Erica in Guadalajara, Mexico. When her daughter Leah taught lampworked bead classes in Ireland and Italy, Geri packed her bags. In 2005 Geri acquired a new title of Nana and forged a special bond with her granddaughter Tara. Two peas in a pod. Geri was a constant source of wisdom and strength, she had a sharp wit and a dry sense of humor. She was admired and respected by her colleagues, adored by her students, and beloved by her family and friends. Geri passed away on December 14th and her memory is cherished by all who knew her. Preceded in death by her parents, sisters: Irene Lovci and Bertha (Babe) Middleton and her brother, Norman (Butch) Baker. Survived by her daughter, Leah Fairbanks and her husband Derek Lusk, granddaughter, Tara Lusk and her daughter Erica Barton Zlataroff.