Kenneth G. Anderson

Kenneth Godfrey Anderson, 89 of River Vale, NJ passed away on March 12, 2013 at his winter home in Melbourne Beach, FL. He is predeceased by his Beloved Wife, Elayne Mary Anderson (nee Tranchina) on December 9, 2011 and by his parents, Godfrey George and Ruth Anderson Olsen (nee Roness). Loving Father of Kenneth G. Anderson Jr. and his Wife, Marcia, of Scotch Plains, NJ and Kathleen L. Georgens and her Husband, Thomas, of Danville, CA and Kimberly A. Dolan and her Husband, Christopher, of Westwood, NJ. He is also survived by a daughter, Kristine Anderson and her Husband, William O’Hara of Jefferson Township, NJ. Grandpa will be deeply missed by his Grandchildren Michael Anderson, Monica Mann and her Husband Greg, Matthew Anderson, Lauren Coleman and her Husband Robert, Daniel Brown, Michelle Krajewski and her Husband David, Kelly Georgens, Alexander Georgens, Evelyn Dolan and Christopher Dolan and his Great Grandchildren Christina Scizak and Andrew Mann. Born in Staten Island, NY, he lived in Bay Ridge Brooklyn as a child. He attended the New York School of Arts and Sciences in New York City. On December 6, 1940 he joined the Army Air Corps, becoming an Aircraft Mechanic and then a Pilot. He piloted 65 missions in a B-25 Mitchell Bomber over Northern Africa, Southern France and Italy. He earned both a Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with 7 Oak Leaf Clusters. After the war, he attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). While at RPI, he flew with the Air National Guard on weekends. With several other students, he set up an independent fraternity called, Kappa Tau, which later became part of Phi Lamda Pi Fraternity after his graduation. He graduated from RPI in 1950 with a Bachelors Degree in Management Engineering. He then worked for Sylvania Electrical Corporation as an Industrial Engineer in the corporate personnel department. He attended Columbia University at night and received his MBA degree in 1953. In 1962, he moved to Celanese Corporation as Assistant Director of Personnel. He ultimately became Corporate Vice President of Human Resources reporting directly to the President and CEO. He retired from Celanese Corporation, then Hoechst Celanese, in 1987. He married on Valentines Day 1953 and settled in Tenafly, NJ eventually moving to River Vale, NJ where he lived for 54 years. Ken was a member the River Vale Planning Board, and served as Chairman for 15 years. He spent his summers in Alfred, ME at the campground that he purchased in retirement, Bunganut Lake Camping Area, and spent the winter months in Melbourne Beach, FL. Funeral from the Becker Funeral Home on Wednesday 9am, with a 10am funeral mass at St. Andrew’s Church, Westwood, NJ. Interment to follow in George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus. Visiting hours are on Monday 7-9pm and Tuesday 2-4 & 7-9pm at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Kenneth may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project www.woundedwarriorproject.org. or at Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517 Topeka, Kansas 66675.