Obituary for Richard R. Anderson
Richard Russell (Dick) Anderson, 92, left this world peacefully surrounded by family on December 18, 2019. Born in Springfield, Massachusetts on May 1, 1927 to the Rev. T. Bertram Anderson and Bessie Ward Graham Anderson, Dick spent his childhood in Litchfield, Connecticut. Dick completed an accelerated secondary education and was admitted to Wesleyan University at the age of 15. His college studies were interrupted by his enlistment in the U.S. Navy shortly before the Japanese surrender, an event for which he frequently took full credit. He returned to Wesleyan, graduated in 1949, and soon thereafter married Janice Downey, the love of his life, soulmate and partner of 70+ years. Dick and Janice settled in Collinsville, Connecticut to raise a family and begin his career.
Dick worked at Connecticut General Life Insurance Company (CIGNA) for 39 years. He became an expert in the investment side of the pension business, later transitioning to marketing and relationship management for the company’s largest, most prestigious accounts. As the industry evolved, he took on new challenges, founding and leading a CIGNA subsidiary that provided an innovative investment service to key clients. Dick retired from CIGNA in 1988 as one of their most highly respected and admired executives.
Dick’s loves, in addition to his wife Janice, were music, wine, golf, hiking, fishing, bird watching, and baseball, especially his idol, Stan Musial. He and Janice honeymooned in New Hampshire and spent nearly every summer on Lake Winnipesaukee. Dick was active in his church and the town of Canton, serving in several official capacities and was a regular participant in the Canton Benefit Productions fundraising musicals. Their later move to Florida and time with friends enriched their retirement years. He was a true gentleman; a man of integrity with an abiding sense of right and wrong, always with a focus on hard work, honesty and obeying the rules. He had a brilliant mind, a quick and engaging sense of humor, a remarkable memory, and an innate ability to develop lifelong relationships. His primary love, however, was spending time with his family. He was a loving brother, husband, father, uncle and grandfather, and a great friend to many. Even when the physical realities of aging challenged him in recent years, he made adjustments and continued to live life to the fullest. He had an indelible impact on every member of his family and his friends and will be greatly missed.
Dick was predeceased by his parents, by his sister Elizabeth, and by brothers Graham, Hugh, Bert, Charles, David and Fred. He leaves behind his wife Janice Anderson, sons David Anderson and wife Lauren Anderson (Sherman, CT), Russell Anderson and wife Beth Anderson (Greenwood, ME and Southport, NC), Hugh Anderson and wife Marcia Anderson (New Hartford, CT) and his daughter Susan Rizzuto and her husband Chris Maurer (Sherman, CT), along with 11 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
A celebration of the life of Dick Anderson is being planned for the Spring of 2020 in Canton, Connecticut. The family requests that any donations be made to the Loon Preservation Society, P.O. Box 604, Moultonborough, NH 03254, or the First Congregational Church of Canton Center, P.O. Box 133, Canton Center, CT 06020. Please visit Dick’s “Book of Memories” at www.vincentfuneralhome.com for online tributes.
Dick worked at Connecticut General Life Insurance Company (CIGNA) for 39 years. He became an expert in the investment side of the pension business, later transitioning to marketing and relationship management for the company’s largest, most prestigious accounts. As the industry evolved, he took on new challenges, founding and leading a CIGNA subsidiary that provided an innovative investment service to key clients. Dick retired from CIGNA in 1988 as one of their most highly respected and admired executives.
Dick’s loves, in addition to his wife Janice, were music, wine, golf, hiking, fishing, bird watching, and baseball, especially his idol, Stan Musial. He and Janice honeymooned in New Hampshire and spent nearly every summer on Lake Winnipesaukee. Dick was active in his church and the town of Canton, serving in several official capacities and was a regular participant in the Canton Benefit Productions fundraising musicals. Their later move to Florida and time with friends enriched their retirement years. He was a true gentleman; a man of integrity with an abiding sense of right and wrong, always with a focus on hard work, honesty and obeying the rules. He had a brilliant mind, a quick and engaging sense of humor, a remarkable memory, and an innate ability to develop lifelong relationships. His primary love, however, was spending time with his family. He was a loving brother, husband, father, uncle and grandfather, and a great friend to many. Even when the physical realities of aging challenged him in recent years, he made adjustments and continued to live life to the fullest. He had an indelible impact on every member of his family and his friends and will be greatly missed.
Dick was predeceased by his parents, by his sister Elizabeth, and by brothers Graham, Hugh, Bert, Charles, David and Fred. He leaves behind his wife Janice Anderson, sons David Anderson and wife Lauren Anderson (Sherman, CT), Russell Anderson and wife Beth Anderson (Greenwood, ME and Southport, NC), Hugh Anderson and wife Marcia Anderson (New Hartford, CT) and his daughter Susan Rizzuto and her husband Chris Maurer (Sherman, CT), along with 11 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
A celebration of the life of Dick Anderson is being planned for the Spring of 2020 in Canton, Connecticut. The family requests that any donations be made to the Loon Preservation Society, P.O. Box 604, Moultonborough, NH 03254, or the First Congregational Church of Canton Center, P.O. Box 133, Canton Center, CT 06020. Please visit Dick’s “Book of Memories” at www.vincentfuneralhome.com