Longtime Hollister businessman and civic leader, Bob Anderson, died peacefully at home on Monday, April 6, 2009. He was 81 years. Bob was a native of Ross (Marin County),California, and graduated from Tamalpais High in Mill Valley. He saw duty in the U.S. Navy at the tail end of World War II and spent many years in the naval reserves, retiring as an ensign. He attended College of Marin and completed a B.S. in statistics at the University of Oregon in 1949, where he was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity.
Bob returned to California and began work in San Francisco, eventually becoming an insurance underwriter for the Kemper Group. A few years later, he moved to Menlo Park and took a job with Sequoia Insurance Company. In 1964, Bob and his family moved to Hollister and he became a partner in Picetti & Anderson Insurance. He retired from the insurance business in 1994 and turned his focus to Wood Stove Kitchens, his wife Barbara’s nascent food empire.
Bob was a director of the Sunnyslope Water District for 18 years. For several years, he chaired the Andy Hardin Golf Tournament, which raised funds for sports programs at Hollister High. He sat on the district committee for the Boy Scouts of America. Bob also served as chair and treasurer of the local United Way; as president of the Young Republicans (Menlo Park); and as chair of the Sertoma Christmas Parade (Menlo Park). He was also a long-time member of Rotary (Paul Harris Fellow), Elks, and the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce.
Bob was a man of quiet passions. He enjoyed gardening, walking and watching sports, particularly football and baseball. He spent many days at the beach bodysurfing with his daughters and nieces. But, Bob was most at home in front of the barbecue- to his family and friends, he was the Wizard of the Weber.
Bob is survived by his wife of 57 years, Barbara; his daughters, Martha Cliff (Dan) of Mill Valley and Susan Anderson (Bruce) of San Francisco; his grandchildren, Will and Janie Cliff and Claire and Lucille Anderson; and his sister, Janet Hurley of Clifton Park, N.Y.
A memorial service is planned for 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, April 22nd at GRUNNAGLE-AMENT-NELSON FUNERAL HOME, 870 San Benito St., Hollister. The service will be followed by a reception at the family home at 591 Donald Drive, Hollister. Contributions in Bob’s memory may be made to the Visiting Nurses Association & Hospice of Hollister. To view and send condolences, visit www.grunnagle.com
