Dennis Dale Anderson

Anderson, Dennis Dale age 64, of Minneapolis, formerly of Orono, born June 1, 1943, died May 27, 2008. Dennis died of complications from amyloidosis, a rare disease that attacks one's tissues and organs for which he was completing treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Dennis will be remembered for his upbeat personality and for living life to the fullest. His family was his highest priority. After losing his wife, Suzy, the love of his life, to cancer in 1999, he redoubled his efforts to care for and nurture his son Ty. In addition to being a great Dad for Ty, he was an influential professional mentor as well. Dennis proudly coached Ty's youth baseball teams, and he also withstood many a below-freezing weekend doing volunteer gate duty during Ty's USSA ski team meets. Dennis founded Andcor Companies, Inc. of Wayzata 38 years ago. Dennis shepherded this nationally recognized recruitment firm through many phases, beginning as a general employment agency and growing into a well-known specialist in the needs of Minnesota-based, emerging growth companies. Dennis' entrepreneurial spirit was always evident; in recent years Andcor transformed the traditional paradigm of the recruiting industry by replacing less creditable headhunting techniques, and establishing a highly respected equity for services model. Under Dennis' tutelage Andcor became a leader in the advancement of strategic human resources, and an active angel investor for emerging growth companies. Dennis' Rolodex was the envy of his competition! Dennis played an active role in the professional community. He was State and National Chairman of the CEO Roundtable. In recognition of his leadership, the Dennis D. Anderson CEO/Roundtable Scholarship was created, which makes annual contributions to the Entrepreneurship Program at the University of St. Thomas. Dennis was on the Advisory Board and Ventures Plus Advisory Board for the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. In 1993, the Twin West Chamber of Commerce named him Entrepreneur of the Year. He served on the cabinet of the Minneapolis United Way, overseeing the Emerging Market Segment. Dennis was also most recently on the Board of Directors of City House, a non-profit organization devoted to inspiring hope and tending to the spiritual life of the poor. Friends and family will remember Dennis' zest for life and competitive spirit. He loved to party and was known for sharing his home on the lake for endless games of water volleyball and croquet. His competitive drive was ever on display, and he loved to recount his daily push-up and sit-up totals to anyone who would listen. Dennis and Suzy traveled a great deal and he continued to travel the world until very recently. He was an avid skier and boater. Dennis would want us all to know that he received "Best Groomed" and "Athlete of the Year" from the various entities that meant a lot to him. Dennis is preceded in death by his wife, Suzy; his mother and father, Evelyn Delay and Elmer Anderson; and brother, Gary Anderson. Dennis is survived by son, Ty C. Anderson of Minneapolis; brothers-in-law, Daniel D. Jacobson of Minneapolis and James M. Jacobson (Micki) of Arlington, TX. He is also survived by nieces and nephews, their families and many good friends who will miss him greatly. Funeral service Saturday, May 31, 11:00 AM at Trinity Lutheran Church, 2060 6th Avenue N. Long Lake. Visitation Friday, May 30, 5-8 PM at David Lee Funeral Home, 1220 E. Wayzata Blvd. Wayzata. Reception to follow service at location to be announced. Memorials preferred to the Entrepreneurial Studies Program of the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota; or to the Dennis D. Anderson/CEO Roundtable Scholarship Fund; or to City-House at www.city-house.org. David Lee Funeral Home Wayzata 952-473-5577
This obituary was originally published in the Star Tribune.