Rick Marc Anderson

It is with the greatest sorrow that we inform you of the death of Rick Marc Anderson, who passed away peacefully in his home, surrounded by his beloved family, on 16 December, 2022.

Rick was born 1 August, 1947 in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the second of four sons born to Clarence Anderson and Kathryn (Neubauer) Anderson. He is preceded in death by both parents and younger brother Anthony. He is survived by his wife Marina and daughter Marina Mignon; brothers Mitch (Barb) and Gregg (Cathey); nieces and nephews on the Anderson side Brian, Mark (Carly), Alexandrea (Ross), Kelsey, Skylar, Kim (Obi); and nephew Baby Jack Loyal Goforth, to name a few.

His life's passion was playing music, beginning as a teenager in various bands in the Phoenix, AZ area. Of note were The Caravelles and The Beans, the latter of which provided the foundations for The Tubes, with whom he crafted an astonishing fifty-plus year career. As a bass player, he had an unmistakeable performance style all his own, and a particular charm that drew the eye while sharing the spotlight with his bandmates. With The Tubes, he went on to travel the world and gained not only the admiration of fans, but also the respect of fellow musicians.

Rick met the love of his life, Marina, in the 1980s. They would go on to marry and have one child, a daughter, Marina Mignon. They spent the greater part of their life as a family in the Central Valley town of Merced, CA. Rick loved every aspect of life in this city in miniature, from the many neighbors he would come to call friends, to the picturesque creek running through the center of town, providing the perfect backdrop to short drives in his classic cars. Throughout his life, he would own an array of these cars, from the 1950s Fords and Chevrolets of his youth, to what was perhaps his favorite, a 1968 Jaguar E-type Coupe, a car he enjoyed driving almost to the end of his life.

Apart from globetrotting, he relished life at home, where he could relax and pursue his various hobbies. He handcrafted improvements to the family home, the most striking of which being the stucco wall that ran along the perimeter of the gardens. For many years, he singlehandedly maintained the property's landscaping, including its many fruit and nut trees. Gifted at woodworking from a young age, a trait passed on from his father, he made redwood garage doors, arbors, and the gates that enclosed the gardens; a horse's head carved in his youth for many years graced the entrance to the car park. Walking Camembert, nicknamed 'Bertie', the family's French Bulldog, through their scenic historic neighborhood also provided one of the joys of his life.

Music was not just a part of his professional life, but also his personal life, indeed his whole life. While at home, he enjoyed sitting in the garden under a Chinese maple tree to play his acoustic guitar and sing. Some of his favorite songs to sing were the old standards, The Summer Wind and Mack the Knife among them, his wife and daughter at times joining in. The spot became a gathering place for friends and neighbors before the pandemic of 2020 put things on hold.

Most everyone who ever met Rick came to love him, and he in turn was energized by interacting with the many people he met. Rick loved the world and the world loved him. He is irreplaceable and will be dearly missed by his family, his bandmates, his friends, and so many more. Perhaps most of all by his wife and daughter, whose family and hearts are now forever missing a piece.

God bless you, Rick Anderson, and may the saints and angels guide you.

A private funeral service will be held on 12 January, 2023 at 9:30 am at Our Lady of Mercy Church, 459 W 21st Street, Merced. Flowers may be sent to Whitton Family Funeral Service, 740 W 19th Street, Merced.

Additional photos may be viewed at Rick's My Keeper page.