LeRoy Francis Anderson

LeRoy F. (Roy) Anderson, longtime resident of Cummaquid and Centerville, MA, was born in Providence, RI on July 21,1928 to Harold & Dagny(Olander) Anderson. After graduating from East Providence High School in 1946, Roy earned a BA in music from Brown University in 1950. He was very proud to have been the first caddy recipient of the RI Golfer’s Association John P. Burke Scholarship Award, which helped fund his Brown education. From 1950-1952, he served in Germany with the US Army’s 175th Battalion during the Korean War. Roy married his high school sweetheart, Claire Christiansen, in 1951, and earned a Masters Degree from Stonier Graduate School of Banking in 1965.

Roy enjoyed a dual career in banking and music. At Brown, organist Roy played chapel services for one week each semester on the big three-manual Hutchins-Votey Sayles organ, earned the Muriel Port Stevens Music Award and then enjoyed more than 20 years as organist at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, Providence, RI (where he met Claire); Second Congregational Church, Attleboro, and Grace Episcopal Church, North Attleboro. Roy’s banking career led him to management positions in several New England community banks, and he was also very involved in Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis and Rotary clubs. He also captured his life’s journey in Joie de Vivre, a 400 page book published in 2016.

Roy and Claire loved to travel and made over 15 trips to Scandinavia, British Isles, France, Germany and Italy from 1995-2006. Pretty and productive gardens were present at each successive residence, and he was also a skilled house painter in every place they called home.

Perhaps, most important of all, Roy & Claire were devoted churchgoers and served on church committees and choirs in every location. Roy & Claire were singers as well, and for over 40 years, added their tenor and soprano voices in many choral groups : Greater New Bedford Choral Society (MA); Rockingham Choral Society (NH); Colby College Town & Gown chorus(ME); St. Mary’s Church Choir (MA); and Chatham Chorale were among them.

He is survived by son Peter Anderson (Annette), daughter Karen Anderson; Grandchildren Kyle Anderson(Jenny), Nick Anderson (Sky), Forest Anderson (Luisa), Molly Hyland(Mike), and Meghan Reilly(Chris), as well as several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by siblings Carl Anderson and Pauline Bensson, and oldest son Eric Anderson.

Heartfelt thanks to the staff at Keystone Place Memory Care in Buzzards Bay, MA, and Beacon Hospice (especially Jessica, RN) who showed so much compassion and were instrumental in maintaining his care, dignity and comfort to the very end.

A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 10am at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 3055 Main Street, Barnstable Village. For all who would like to attend, a reception will immediately follow the service in the church hall.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Alzheimer’s Association of MA, or the Animal Rescue League in Brewster, MA where they adopted their beloved Maine Coon cat, Presto, who now lives with daughter Karen.