Daniel William Anderson

Daniel “Pops” William Anderson was born in Tucson, Arizona on September 7, 1949. He graduated from high school in 1967 in Houston, Missouri, and shortly after, enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He was stationed in San Diego, CA, and served as a clarinetist for the Marine Corps Field Band. He later re-enlisted in the Marines and was stationed at Camp Lejeune.

A lifelong learner, Dan received his BA, his MA in Fine Arts (Writing), and finally his Juris Doctorate in1997, all from the University of Arizona.

One of his passions was writing. He was an accomplished author and published many articles and books including a Hardy Boys book called The Desert Thieves. His final work published in 2012, was the historical fiction novel Stephen Downing is Dead, a book he labored over for many years.

Daniel was a member of the CJA panel of the Federal District Court in Tucson, where, as a fluent Spanish speaker, he served as a criminal defense attorney, providing legal counsel and support to immigrants in the border community. He also was sworn in as a Judge in the City Court of Tucson. He was known for his enormous and enduring kindness and for his dedication to his work and clients. He served on the boards of several philanthropic organizations in Tucson, including Esperanza en Escalante, which helped homeless U.S. military veterans, and Tubac’s Border Community Alliance.

In addition to his writing and professional work, Daniel was an avid bike rider who rode in the El Tour de Tucson, finishing the 100 -mile route several times. He was fascinated by space and was known to chase solar eclipses for thousands of miles, and for never missing a chance to view the space station traveling overhead.

But mostly, Dan was known for his remarkable ability to connect with people, making lasting impressions on everyone he met. He was a devoted father and partner, deeply involved in the lives of his loved ones. He will be sorely missed by his family and many , many others.

Daniel is survived by his loving life partner, Sherry Mullens; his daughters, Nicolle Pillartz (Jeff) of Brooklyn, NY, Meredith Brines (Scott) of Richland, WA ; his sons, Neil Hyland of Tucson, AZ and Eli Hyland of Brooklyn, NY,; his stepdaughters, Sara Field (Frank) of Seattle, WA and Rebecca Kidder (Stephen) of Truckee, CA; his grandchildren, John, Sierra, and Ali Brines, as well as step-granddaughters Maddie and Zoe Field and his great-granddaughter, Lylah Brines-Ross; his brothers Neil Anderson (Donna), Bella Vista, AR, Paul Anderson, (Becky) of Houston, MO, Mark Anderson (Jo) of Custer, MI, and his sister Amy Flores, of Tucson, AZ, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Regina Anderson and brothers Lee and Glenn.

Funeral and memorial service will be held at East Lawn Palms Mortuary and Cemetery in Tucson on November 1, 2024, at 3 PM. A gathering after the service will be held at Che's Lounge, 350 N. 4th Avenue, Tucson.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Esperanza en Escalante, Border Community Alliance or the American Cancer Society.