Deceased December 8, 2013

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In Memory

Ernie Anderson, 84, of Madison, died Dec. 8 at 9 p.m. at home with his family. He was born July 24, 1929, in Newark, N.J., to Gladys and George Anderson. Before graduating from Westfield (N.J.) High School, he worked for Western Union. This experience led to his becoming a very young LTJG/communications officer on the USS Baltimore, a ship that was in the 1953 Coronation Naval Review in London for Queen Elizabeth. He graduated from Amherst College in 1950, joined the navy and later graduated from Harvard School of Education with master’s and doctor’s degrees. Ernie taught higher education management systems courses at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, for 30 years. He also did consulting work in school scheduling in the U.S. and Asia. He lectured on TV for Japanese universities in Hokkaido, in person in several schools throughout Australia and joined a People to People trip about computers and other trips to China between 1987 and 2005. When Clinton became president, Ernie delivered a message from Vice President Gore to the Chinese from the stage of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. He twice went around the world via Russia.

Ernie worked on trail crew in Vermont and New York, hiked the entire Vermont Green Mountain Trail and climbed all 46 peaks above 4,000 feet in the New York Adirondacks. He also led both Boy and Girl Scout troops as leader and in camping and committees, worked as motorman/conductor in three trolley museums and served on the Government Relations and Tourism Chamber of Commerce committees. Ernie attended international scout jamborees in USA and led post-jamboree bus trips of international scouts. A Hammonasset camporee with Boy and Girl Scouts and Russian children from the New York City Soviet Mission changed Gorbachev’s attitude toward scouting. After chairing his 35th Amherst College Reunion, and other service, Ernie became a class officer. He has received many awards for his volunteer service.

Ernie helped found and became president of Association of Educational Data Systems, now an international organization. With other international organizations such as iEARN, he has demonstrated his interest in helping the young people of various countries to learn about each other with the help of computer communications. At a conference in Beijing, he met someone from Zimbabwe who delivered and installed 100 computers at Mount Selinda school/hospital, of interest to Madison’s First Congregational Church. Ernie has sung in that church’s and other choirs. Moving to Madison after retirement, Ernie brought scouts and other nonprofits into Chambers of Commerce in Branford, Guilford and Madison. Scouts have done Eagle projects for these towns.

Ernie is survived by his wife, Pat; son Russell and his wife, Migle; and daughter Carol Rowe. His Celebration of Life service was held Dec. 14 at First Congregational Church, Madison. Burial was in West Cemetery, Madison.

Pat Anderson