Mark James Anderson

On October 15, 2015 Mark passed away with his family holding his hand and music. Mark was predeceased by his parents, Catherine O’Leary Anderson, and James Anderson. He is survived by his wife, Linda Anderson, children Ashley (Scott) Halligan, and Jeffrey Anderson, his brothers and sister, Richard and Mel Blair, and Carol Blair, and many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews his mother in law Emily Hudon, and sisters in law Cammie (David) Montini, and Gayle (Dale) Nakayama, and nieces and nephews, David Montini, Lisa Montini, Benjamin Nakayama, and Caitlyn Nakayama.

He was born in Palo Alto at Stanford University Medical Center, and grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area during the 50’s. For children at that time the Bay Area was a magical place full of cherry and apricot and pear orchards, and they had the freedom to play outside all day during the summer and only come in at night for dinner and bed. Mark attended Camden High School where he made some long lasting friendships including Tom Burchette, and Joe Toscano. Together these three played hard and worked hard. They supported each other during the good and bad times. They participated in each other’s weddings as groomsmen and best man, and tell you that together they “had the times of their lives”.

Mark apprenticed with a master floor covering installer, and upon completing his apprenticeship and working for the man he apprenticed with, he began his own carpet installation business. He was a highly respected and sought after installer; one of his installations was for the movie set of “Heaven Can Wait”, where he met Diane Cannon. Later Mark transitioned to carpet sales for LD Brinkman, and then to the automotive industry, working for Smythe European, where he was one of their no. 1 sales people for years. Smythe European was privately owned by the Smythe and Mark recounts the story where Mr. Smythe the 75 year old owner of the business came to his office when he was working with a client, and asked Mark if he could take a moment to chat. Of course Mark agreed; upon which Mr. Smythe told the clients that Mark was one of their very best salespeople, and how pleased he was to have Mark working for his company. Mark was so happy to have had a man he had so much respect for pay him this compliment. During this time he began a sport he was to develop a true passion for and which he played up to the week before he passed away, and that was golf. He played courses throughout the Bay Area, Lake Tahoe, San Luis Obispo, and in Hawaii. The clubs were almost always in the car, just in case he had a few extra minutes somewhere to practice at the driving range, or to pick up a game. As the years that he played golf passed, he only became more passionate about the game and was nearing the description - “scratch golfer”.

He was also an avid pet owner, probably at the behest of his wife, Linda who also loves pets. When he met Linda he had an Old English sheepdog, known as Casey, and Linda had a cocker spaniel named Higgins. And somehow even though they were both male dogs, they got along, and so did Mark and Linda. In fact so well that they married and together have 2 children Jeff and Ashley. (Today there are three pets in his home a Newfoundland dog, Storm, a Maltese poodle, Sasha, and a long haired cat, Misty). Of all the things Mark loved, Jeff and Ashley were by far who he loved best. As a father Mark wanted to open the world to his children. To teach them not only how to enjoy things, but he especially wanted to give them the knowledge and power to be able to take care of themselves in this life. And he did that and so much more. He was a man that loved family meals, dinner was almost always together as a family in the evening, and regardless of everyone’s hectic schedules eating dinner together was an imperative. And to make things just that much better he was a terrific cook. He made going out to a restaurant difficult, because he could usually provide just a good if not better quality. Jeff and Ashley were the light and joy in Mark’s life. Linda was his life partner, together for over 20 years they shared times that were beyond compare. Mark had the soul of a romantic, one year at Christmas he hung a Christmas stocking with white roses on their bedroom door. At their anniversary one year he asked her if she would have married him again, knowing everything she knew now, and she answered yes. Well, what else could she have said? He had just given her a diamond ring! But if asked that question today, “would you have done it again?” what would she say? Well she was asked, and the answer was a resounding YES. Mark lived a life that should be remembered as a life well lived.