Duane Edward Anderson

Duane Edward Anderson, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend whose life took him from San Francisco, CA to Milwaukee, WI, Ridgewood, NJ and finally Stratford, CT, passed away August 2, 2025. He was 93. Born July 19, 1932, in Turlock, California and raised in Berkley, he faced adversity at an early age, beginning when his father, Edward Vieira passed away when Duane was only 3 years old. As a child raised in the pre-war years, Duane learned the value of hard work and responsibility from a young age - principles that guided him unwaveringly through the rest of his life. After working as a newspaper delivery boy, grocery store clerk and taking on various other jobs through his school years, Duane joined the Air Force when he graduated from high school. In the Air Force he served as a cryptographer in Hawaii and as a radio operator in the Philippines during the Korean War. During this time, at the age of 19, while serving abroad, he lost his stepfather Harold Anderson. Though at times thousands of miles separated them, Duane remained deeply devoted to his mother, Helen Trieweiler Anderson - staying closely connected, offering love and support from afar, and never wavering in his love for her throughout her life. Duane is survived by his younger brother Larry Anderson, of Sonora, California. Although life placed many miles between them as well, the affection Duane held for his brother never wavered. They stayed in close touch and though their visits were few and far between, they always made the most of them - sharing laughter, stories, and moments that only brothers can share.

After being honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1956, Duane returned stateside and attended the University of California in Berkley, where he would earn a bachelor's degree in journalism, graduating summa cum laude. While at Berkley, Duane was a radio and television editor at the Berkley Gazette and staff editor at the California Pelican college humor magazine. After graduating, Duane began working at McGraw-Hill in San Francisco. It was there that he met the love of his life, Anne Sheelah Wimbs of Scotland. After a courtship of just over a year, they were married in Berkley, CA on November 27, 1965, and began a loving marriage that would span nearly 60 years. In 1967, Duane was transferred to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to open McGraw-Hill's regional office as Editor-in-Chief. There, in 1968, Duane and Anne welcomed their first child, Ian Edward. A year and half later, in 1970, their second child, Erik Duane arrived.

After four years in Wisconsin, Duane once again answered the call when he was dispatched to McGraw-Hill's New York City office to provide leadership and drive efficiency as an editor of Businessweek magazine. Much to his and Anne's chagrin, this "temporary" assignment in New York turned out to be permanent. Duane would spend the rest of his distinguished 40-year career in New York City. After settling in the New York City suburb of Ridgewood, NJ, Duane and Anne welcomed their third son, Colin Michael in 1974. Duane's sons were his pride and joy. With quiet strength, he instilled in his sons the value of hard work, accountability, and the duties of supporting a family. He taught them how to be a responsible and loving father. While often working long hours, and battling chronic back pain, he still found the time and strength to play ball with his sons, coach baseball, attend their various school and recreational activities, and help them with homework.

Duane's "happy place" was Lake Beebe in Vermont. Beginning in 1974, Anne and Duane took their sons on an annual pilgrimage to a lakefront cottage there to enjoy time away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Although he enjoyed swimming, there was perhaps nowhere Duane felt more at home than out on the lake, fishing pole in hand, surrounded by nature. In addition to Vermont, Duane enjoyed visits to California to visit his brother and his family, traveling to the UK to see Anne's family and stays at the Jersey Shore with Anne and their tight-knit group of friends, who affectionately referred to him as "Big D". From his childhood, Duane loved fruit, specifically peaches, which he used to pick straight from the trees in his relative's orchard back in his hometown of Turlock. He also enjoyed biking, was a gifted photographer, and had a lifelong fondness for pigs, with every corner of his office displaying pig figurines, plush toys, and other swine-themed treasures.

After working nearly non-stop since he was a child, Duane retired in 2000 and began the life of a loving grandfather, doting on what would eventually be a brood of eight grandchildren, including Samantha, Connor, Natalie, Aidan, Scott, Bailey, Gavin and Spencer. Duane and Anne would travel to New York, Connecticut and New Hampshire to enjoy holidays and special occasions with their sons, their daughters-in-law, Diane, Sylvia and Kate, and the grandchildren who affectionately called him "Papa". In retirement, Duane's happy place became anywhere his grandchildren were - reading them stories, distributing Papa's famous hugs and eventually attending high school graduations as they became adults.

Duane's presence enriched the lives of those around him. He will be dearly missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew him, especially his wife, sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren, who carry his memory in their hearts.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Sierra Club.