Richard L. Dick Anderson

Richard L. "Dick" Anderson died February 20 at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center after a brief illness with his family at his side.

He was born on February 14, 1945 in Hammond Indiana where his father, Lenny, was stationed during the war. He spent his early years in Boston before moving to Reading at age 4, where he remained until he married. He graduated from Reading High School in 1962.

As a teen he would go on father/son vacations with Lenny. Dick was his only child and they had a special bond which sadly ended early when Lenny died of cancer in 1973.

Dick met the love of his life, Deborah Richardson, at Northern Essex Community College and they were married in 1967 at All Saint’s Church in West Newbury. They were married for nearly 57 years and resided in Groveland. He had one daughter, Cindy (Sherburne). He graduated from Suffolk University and was an elementary school teacher in Georgetown from 1967 until his retirement thirty years later. He touched the lives of hundreds of students during his tenure.

Dick was an avid cyclist and rode his bike passionately. He would commute to work on his bike and then ride an extra twenty miles or so to get home in the afternoon. He completed a few “centuries”, riding 100 miles in a day. He would also ride in the White Mountains, including over the Kancamagus Highway. He continued riding most of his life.

One of his biggest accomplishments was completing the 48 4000 Footers in New Hampshire. Dick did them all as day hikes which meant that some hikes were almost 20 miles long. He completed them with his wife, daughter, then son-in-law Mike Sherburne and his grand dog Keena.

His greatest love in life, aside from his wife and daughter, was his grand dog Valka. The two shared an undeniable bond. He also had two other grand dogs Saphira and Isabella and was predeceased by Ayla and Kira.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday February 28 at Paul C. Rogers Family Funeral Home, 2 Hillside Avenue, Amesbury. Calling hours will be at 10 am followed by an 11 am service. He will have a private interment in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, if you would like to donate in his memory, please donate to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), 266 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, MA or to The North Shore Animal League America, 25 Davis Ave., Port Washington, NY.