Andy (Warren) Anderson was born in St. Paul and enjoyed a full life.  He passed away just 18 days shy of his 93rd birthday. 

Andy’s well-rounded life began in St. Paul, the son of a railroad postal worker, Albin, and his mother Amy.  He was a quarterback at Wilson High in St. Paul, and a sports announcer for the college radio station while attending the University of Minnesota.  Andy also played a fierce game of tennis from youth to beyond age 70, even meeting Billy Jean King, a woman he admired greatly.

Andy met the love of his life, Dot, in a drugstore while serving in the U.S. Navy during WWII as a rangefinder aboard the USS Rawlins, an attack transport.  This ship delivered troops to Guadalcanal and other islands in the Pacific and was part of the invasion force of Okinawa.  Shortly before the invasion took place, Andy was shipped to Guam to be sent home to the states for officer’s candidate training under the V-12 program.  As the airplane from Guam flew over the invasion fleet, he observed what he said was the most amazing sight he had ever seen: thousands of ships poised to attack.  His officer training then brought him to three different colleges, Tulane in New Orleans, Princeton, and the University of Minnesota.  While attending Princeton, Andy passed Albert Einstein while walking on the campus.  Paralyzed with "awe", he always regretted not introducing himself.

Andy became a salesman at Pillsbury where he met his dear friend for life, Ted Delancey.  After Pillsbury, they worked together for many years at a toy distributor business that was started by Ted.  They remained close for more than 60 years.  Andy then became a manufacturer's rep for many well-known toy companies until his retirement at age 70. 

Andy loved to play cribbage and was a master at it.  If you played with him and got away without being "skunked", you could consider yourself lucky.  He would always say, "We can play as long as you are ready to lose".

Andy and Dot were happily married for 69 years, and if you look up the word 'soul-mates', you'll likely see a picture of this couple in each other’s arms, perhaps at home or perhaps traveling to.. Tahiti.. or Europe .. or the Virgin Islands ....or any of over 50 vacations they took together or with their good friends, Bob and Ardy Volk.  Andy and Dot were very social people.  They were blessed with a large circle of friends and attended, as well as hosted, many parties, including their annual 'boring party' that was featured in an Erma Bombeck StarTribune article.

As a Big Brother volunteer, Andy mentored an inner-city youth for several years.  He was very passionate about wanting to do everything he could to make a difference in a young person's life.

Andy respected the important work of teachers, and in 2013 was presented KARE11’s prestigious “Eleven Who Care” award for his many years spent tutoring math to 2nd graders at Sunrise Elementary in Plymouth, as an inspired volunteer.  His students lovingly called him 'Mr. Andy' and he always said how rewarding it was when one of his students got an answer right.  Andy believed that teaching was the highest calling and he did everything he could to promote the teachers, who he thought were underappreciated. 

He took it upon himself to organize a teacher appreciation event.  He worked with the students and local businesses to put on an event designed to thank the teachers for all of the hard work they do.  It is something that the teachers remember fondly.  Andy even sent letters to the Governor about his idea for an official "Teachers Day" to celebrate educators.

Andy had a passion for meeting people and loved getting to know everything about them.  He enjoyed doing bios on the people he met in his building.  He was always thinking and learning and had a very curious, young mind.  

In addition to the love that he and Dot shared, they loved, nurtured, and are survived by their 4 children – Linda (Bob), Janice (Pat), David (Kristin) and Sandra, and grandsons Max and Ben.  Andy was a man of his time, a patriot, and one of the "greatest generation", a fine human being, husband, father and grandfather. 

Many thanks to the wonderful and caring staff at North Memorial Hospice (Cathy, Wilder, Charlie and team) for their exceptional care and compassion.

Services have been held.

Published on November 25, 2018