G. Harry Andersen

G. Harry Andersen
December 28, 1924 ~ December 25, 2011
ORINDA - Gerhard "Harry" Andersen, age 86, passed away peacefully on Christmas Day, 2011, surrounded by his close family. Harry was born in Svendborg, Denmark, in 1924, and grew up in the town of Odense, later studying at the University of Copenhagen. He was active in the Danish Resistance during World War II, after which he immigrated to the United States. Arriving in California in 1948, he worked and studied at U.C. Berkeley, planning to continue on to medical school. But as more and more Americans traveling to Europe began to seek him out for his extensive knowledge of European cultures and languages, Harry found his niche as a tour organizer and guide. He led his first Eur-Cal tour in 1951, in conjunction with U.C. Berkeley. As the word spread about his engaging leadership of 80-day European tours, he established his own business, Andersen Tours, to meet the high demand. He also co-founded Andersen Travel in Berkeley and Orinda.
It was on Harry's European tour in 1955 that he met his wife, a schoolteacher named Jane Kay Stevens. They married on December 28, 1955, and lived in Berkeley and Orinda before moving to Carmel in 2000. There, Harry and Jane enjoyed their retirement years together in the vacation home they had bought years earlier. Harry is remembered for his generous spirit and his deep love for family, friends, and travel.
During Harry's travel career, he introduced many, many people to his native Denmark, and in 1982, Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark made him a Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog for his service to the country. In California, Harry also enjoyed contributing to his community as a member of many organizations, including Rotary of Piedmont, Orinda, and Carmel; the Danish-American Chamber of Commerce; and the Danish Club of San Francisco.
Harry was well known for his enthusiasm for Danish culture and traditions, which he passed on to his family. He is survived by his wife, Jane; his sister, Elisabeth Flindt of Odense, Denmark; his son, Per and daughter-in-law, Karin of Randers, Denmark; his son, Steven and daughter-in-law, Yuqin of Sacramento; his daughter, Karen and son-in-law, Andrew Karplus of Corvallis, Oregon; his son, Niels and daughter-in-law, Heidi of London; his son, Erik and daughter-in-law, Heather of Orinda; and his thirteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations in Harry's memory be made to The Orinda Rotary Club Endowment Fund, P.O. Box 44, Orinda, CA 94563, or to the Orinda Community Foundation, P.O. Box 21, Orinda, CA 94563.
A celebration of life will take place at Orinda Community Church on Saturday, December 31, 2011 at 1:00 p.m.