Paul E. Anderson

1943 - 2020

Paul E. Anderson
October 20, 1943 - December 14, 2020
La Jolla, CA
Paul was born on October 20, 1943, the son of Swedish immigrants Hilmer and Maria Anderson. Hilmer and Maria raised Paul and his older sister Ruth in Andersonville, a neighborhood on the North Side of Chicago. But when Paul was only 12, his father passed away and he moved with his mother to Los Angeles, California. Paul later worked hard to pay for and earn a degree in physics at the University of California at Los Angeles.

After graduating in 1966, Paul landed a job to work on the Doppler radar system installed aboard the Apollo Lunar Lander as an Electronics Engineer at Teledyne Ryan in San Diego, California. He later moved to General Dynamics where he continued to work on aerospace and defense projects, focusing on wireless and radio technology. Although Paul never shared information about the classified projects he worked on, he was proud of his work. Paul's uninterrupted employment for nearly four decades in a turbulent industry and across multiple company transitions first when his division of General Dynamics became GDE Systems, and later when GDE Systems was acquired by BAE Systems demonstrates that he was valued for his ability as an engineer. After his retirement in 2002, Paul continued to work for several more years as a consultant.While in San Diego, Paul met the love of his life, Nancy Ellis. They were married at La Jolla Presbyterian Church and had a reception at the San Diego Yacht Club in September of 1970. Paul and Nancy raised their three children in La Jolla, California. September 2020 marked Paul and Nancy's 50th anniversary of their marriage. Paul and Nancy shared a love of travel. After Paul retired in 2002, they traveled extensively, including trips around the US, Canada, Scandinavia, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, the British Isles, Israel, Hawaii, and Colombia. Before the COVID pandemic, they planned to take a river cruise in Europe to celebrate their 50th anniversary. In recent years, Paul and Nancy generously shared their love of travel and family heritage with their grandchildren by taking them on memorable trips to Sweden, where they enjoyed visiting Paul's many relatives all over the country. One of Paul's favorite things to do was run at La Jolla's scenic beaches and neighborhoods. He had also been a regular fixture at Mission Bay, where for many years he enjoyed meeting friends to run after work. Paul competed in numerous 5K, 10K, and half-marathon races throughout the 1980s and 90s. After retirement, Paul continued to stay fit with spinning and stretching classes at the Lawrence Family JCC, where he enjoyed the exercise and camaraderie, and expanded his circle of friends. Paul's engineering mind and creativity were constantly engaged not only at his job, but around the house as well. Tinkering in his workshop in the garage with his collections of circuits, wires, and various tools, Paul loved to come up with his own inventions. He was always thinking of unique ideas and ways to improve things, such as remote alarms that would go off to let him know when the mail had arrived or when the laundry was done. His car, nightstand, and other surfaces throughout the house were often covered with little yellow sticky notes, on which he would jot down the many ideas that came to his head.Paul impressed everyone he met with his exceedingly kind and gentle nature. He was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend. Paul will be remembered for his quiet, caring, steadfast, and selfless dedication to his family. He was always there for every family event - big or small, near or far. Whenever anyone needed a helping hand, Paul would be the first to show up. When Paul's children were young, he attended each and every one of their sporting and school events. And then when his children grew up and had children of their own, Paul always showed up to watch and support his grandchildren in their various performing arts or sports endeavors, often traveling hours to be able to attend.Paul was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in October 2020, and passed away on December 14, 2020. He is survived by his wife Nancy, his daughter and son-in-law Christina and Andrew Blaiklock of South Pasadena, California, his daughter and son-in-law Karen and Edward Benito of La Jolla, California, and his son and daughter-in-law Mark and Jamie Anderson of the Bronx, New York. Paul is also survived by his six beloved grandchildren, Bjorn and Annika Blaiklock, Sophia and Carmen Benito, and Jasper and Cecilia Anderson.Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a memorial service will be held at a future date for family and friends to gather and celebrate Paul's life. Memorial donations in memory of Paul may be made to The Leukemia And Lymphoma Society or the Lawrence Family JCC. Please sign the guest book online at legacy.com/obituaries/ lajollalight