John Rinell Anderson

John "Dutch" Anderson died September 29, 2023 in Raleigh, N.C. He is survived by his four children, Kristine Ashwood, Debbie Williams, Katharine Myhand, John Anderson, five grandchildren and two sisters, Janet Mikolajczyk and Marty Konowitz. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 52 years Susan (Leonard). He graduated from Youngsville High School, PA in 1956 and entered the US Air Force, where he spent four years studying electronics and electrical engineering.

His career path led him to participate in the emergence of new technologies like early bar code readers that could relay freight train contents, national automated telephone switching systems, and early concepts for high speed internet and phone systems for commercial and residential markets. And on some Friday nights at the kitchen table, would invite his kids to come look and listen to the "whales" on his oscilloscope. Work took Dutch to many places: Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Ontario Canada, working with companies like Westinghouse, North Electric, ITT and Nortel.

When Dutch wasn't reviewing schematics or writing test scripts, he was listening to jazz. He was a giant jazz aficionado and a member of the Cape Fear Jazz Society in Wilmington, NC where he presented lectures on humor in jazz and jazz in the poetry of Langston Hughes. Some of his most revered artists were Charles Mingus, Theloneous Monk, Max Roach, Lee Morgan, and Tom Waits. He shared his love of music with inclusion, excitement and good humor. He taught us all to listen to music a bit deeper and to let the notes tell their story to you.

Dutch loved people and making friends. He made friends standing in a grocery store line. He made chili for Steelers games at the Red Fox. He was an altar boy and an usher at the theater. He fired homemade cannons on the 4th of July with his buddy Lee. He built crystal radios and made his kids watch Carl Sagan's Cosmos series on a 13" black and white TV.

Dutch, Renny, Andy or John he was Dad and Pop Pop to his kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews. Always ready with a kind word, bolstering advice and encouragement. Family gatherings were more fun with his presence, laughter and stories.

He was and is a beautiful spirit. He will be dearly missed by all of us.

Memorial contributions can be made to:

The Jazz Foundation of America

https://jazzfoundation.org/donate/

Jazz House Kids

https://jazzhousekids.org/support-us/