Philip A. Anderson

Anderson, Philip A.

Phil Anderson died peacefully today, April 13th, in the presence of his loving family.

Phil’s family moved to Barrington in 1942, and he jokingly would say, “I never left town.” Moses Brown, Dartmouth College and Salve Regina educated him well. After a Stint in the Naval Air Force, his first job was as production control manager at a nuclear rod production company in Plainville, MA. From there he trained as a systems engineer at IBM, later starting his own computer service company with a friend. Ten years later they sold that company to Fleet.

Phil had a knack for creating new and exciting career opportunities—Gordon School, Moses Brown and the McAdams Charitable Foundation as business manager, and then as interim director at Blithewold. A true testament to his affability, intelligence, talents and willingness to explore new Horizons.

Phil embodied his love for nature at our cabin on Lake Wentworth in Wolfeboro, NH, the closest thing to paradise on earth. Sailing, Hiking, waterskiing, canoeing, swimming snorkeling, tubing, the frog pond,O’Fudge and the Daily Bubble for homemade ice cream made for the time of his grandsons’ lives. His passion for sailing (and exorbitant lakefront taxes in NH), led us to buy a big old cat boat, the L’ARK (Anderson, Ramsden, Kilmarx), with two of our dearest friends. For 20 years we happily sailed around, exploring the islands off Westport, creating unforgettable memories.

Since Phil was a good Lutheran Swede, faithful to his family tradition, we spent the first 30 years of marriage at St. James Lutheran Church. Phil loved to sing. For 50 years, his beautiful tenor voice was heard in church choirs and the Rhode Island Civic Chorale. For the last 30 years, we have happily worshipped at St. John’s Church.

There will be a memorial service at St. John’s Church 191 County Road, Barrington RI 02806 on May 3rd at llam. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. John’s Church or Common Cause RI of Habitat for Humanity.

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