May 4, 2009
Anderson, James C.
James C. “Jim” Anderson, a resident of Westwood for 24 years, died suddenly May 3rd, 2009 at the Caritas Norwood Hospital. He was 55. Jim was born June 25, 1953 in Wichita, Kansas, a son of the late Richard E., and Dorothy (Frazee) Anderson. He graduated from Wichita High School North with the Class of 1971, earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Wichita State University, his Master’s Degree from the University of Michigan, and his PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in electrical engineering. Prior to moving to Westwood he lived in Acton, and before that, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Jim has worked for the past 32 years as a Staff Engineer at the MIT Lincoln Labs in Lexington. He was a member of the IEEE (the International Electrical and Electronic Engineers) and was an assistant scoutmaster with Boy Scout Troop One in Westwood. Jim sang in the choir at the First Parish of Westwood United Church and was a member of the International Guild. He played trumpet in the Lexington Town Band, and regularly accompanied his son Peter in trumpet duets at the First Parish Church. He is survived by his wife, Thomasine G. (Berg); his daughter, Jamie B. Anderson of Boston; his two sons, Peter B. Anderson, and Benjamin B. Anderson, both of Westwood; and his two brothers, Thomas M. Anderson, and Charles Anderson, both of Wichita, Kansas. He was the brother of the late Richard E. “Dickie” Anderson II. Visiting hours will be held Thursday, May 7 from 2-4 & 7-9 PM at the Folsom Funeral Home, 649 High St., Westwood. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral Friday at 10 AM at the First Parish of Westwood United Church, 340 Clapboardtree Street (at the corner of Nahatan and Clapboardtree Streets), Westwood. Interment will follow in New Westwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations to the Jim Anderson Memorial Music Fund, First Parish Church, 340 Clapboardtree St., Westwood, MA 02090 or to the Boy Scouts of America would be appreciated.
Comments(20)
We have known Jim both through Lincoln Laboratory and through Boy Scouting for years. His enthusiasm was contagious and his pride in his family was obvious. As parents of Eagle Scouts we shared our pride in our sons. We will miss Jom both at work and at Scouting events. You are in our prayers.
Barbara & Joe Chludzinski
Lincoln Laboratory and Burlington Troop 511
I was the original drummer in the Majestic Mood. I remember James as the most gentle nicest guy I have ever met. I envied his intellegence, but more importantly I envied his loving and calm nature. I would always go a hundred miles an hour until I was around Jim and he would always calm me down with his demeanor. He carried himself with character and after the many years of separation I feel sad that I didn’t call him and tell him that I thought of him often. My bad Jim, I’ll see you on the other side….I’ll bring my drums.
Jim was a wonderful man who I first met around 1968 when he joined our band. I have very fond memories of Jim from then and looked forward to seeing him again this summer or next for a reunion of The Majestic Mood. Although I greatly enjoyed some recent emails from Jim that brought back memories of what a great person he was, I sincerely regret we did not have the opportunity to see each other again personally.
I remember well those nights we were playing in night clubs (at the age of 16), and when all the rest of us were acting pretty much like teenagers, Jim would be quietly reading a book. There were even times when the band was rocking loud in some club or other location, we might be doing a song that didn’t require the horn section, and one could see Jim behind stage reading away. What impressed me greatly back then was Jim’s ability as a musician. He would listen to a song (on a record), then lift the needle, blow it out on his trumpet, and then score what he just blew. Notwithstanding his obvious maturity beyond the rest of us back then, we still all loved Jim and wanted him to be a part of us. We recognized his value as a musician, but we also recognized his great value as a human being.
At times like these, it is so difficult to understand God’s purpose in what we see as a premature death of a very worthy individual. All that can be said is “To God be the glory”.
I am certain Jim is looking down on us with that great smile of his. Part of his legacy is in the hearts of all of us who pain over his loss, because we all know he touched our hearts dearly and for that he will be sorely missed.
Dear Thomasine, Peter, Jamie and Ben, please know my heart goes out to you as you suffer over the loss of your Husband and Father.
It is a good feeling to know Jim was a believer and that he is now with his Father for eternity.
We love you Jim,
Jim Traner
Atlanta, Georgia
Thomasine,
All of your friends at the Globe are so sorry for you and your family during this terribly difficult time. Please know you are in our thoughts and hearts.
AS A MEMBER OF THE MIDIAN DANCEKATZ ALONG WITH TOM (BROTHER OF JAMES) I HAD THE OPPERTUNITY TO SHARE A COMMON PASSION WITH JAMES — MUSIC.
JAMES WAS A FINE HORN MAN AND A FINE PERSON AS A FRIEND. I WILL MISS OUR MEETINGS ON THE BANDSTAND.
KNOWING JAMES WAS A REAL PLEASURE.
IVEN
Dear Thomasine, Peter, Jamie and Ben,
It is with extreme sadness for you and all of us who dearly loved Jim I am writing to express how much I will miss Jim.
It was just Sunday, after the Lexington Bicentennial band concert,while talking with Jim and Peter I last saw Jim. If anyone needed help or just a kind word, or advise–Jim was the person to embrace you with words and the kindest of hearts. Playing trumpet next to Jim was always a pleasure. A multitalented,kind,and generous human being-
I am so very fortunate and grateful to have known Jim.
My prayers and love are with you,
Joy Oakes
As a member of the Bands with Tom (James brother)
we want to let you know our Prayers are with the family
as a great musican will be missed .May God comfort each
of the family members now and in the future.
Bruce & Kathy Rose
Towanda Ks.
Thomasine,
I am thinking of you and extend my love and support. What a lovely and talented man Jim was.
Love,
June
I am so sorry for your loss. Jim was a valued member of the Lexington Bicentennial Band and will be missed by all of us.
Dear Thomasine and family,
I remember your growing up years at First MB Church in Wichita. Your parents were such wonderful mentors and friends! They were so proud of all of their children and grandchildren. I pray that God will comfort you and the children as you have recently lost your mother and now your husband in an untimely death.
God is faithful to provide our needs.
Harlan and Emma Walton
Thomasine and family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you. I did not know Jim, but he sounds like a wonderful person.
Wayne Miller
Phyllis and I were deeply saddened when we learned of Jim’s passing. He was an excellent engineer, very innovative, always positive and thoughtful, a real gentleman.
Lot’s of fond memories: When he got his PhD at MIT all of Group 42 was happy for him; And playing with him, Bill, Jerry, Ralph, and Ann in the Dixie Land band.
To Thomasine and the children, please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Ray and Phyllis La Frey
New Braunfels, Texas
Dear Thomasine & Children,
James grew up next door and was a precocious young boy. My husband enjoyed having him around to share his love of ham radio. When James came home from college he would always seek Clancey out to chat. James always gave Clancey the credit for getting him into ham radio and getting his EE instead of being a musician. I remember Dickie, Charles, James, Dick and Dorothy with fondness. God Bless you all.
Aletha
Over the years Jim would come back to Wichita from time to time and we’d look each other up and catch up on old times. I remember Jim one time saying the he was “the Rocket Scientist it didn’t take to do that”. Always a great wit and a great guy. The other day, when Roger Crandon, Larry and I were sitting around planning the band reunion and reminiscing Jim’s name would repeatedly come up and all the good times we had together. I was really looking forward to seeing Jim once more. Jim’s knowledge about our repertoire, as with many other things, was encyclopaedic.
Dear Thomasine,
Jim sounds like an amazing man. Certainly he chose an amazing high school sweetheart. My best thoughts are with you, your children, and family.
Dear Thomasine,
I’m so very sorry to hear about James. What a wonderful, loving and accomplished man he was. I’ll be keeping you and your family in my prayers.
Kathy
Thomasine,
My thoughts and prayers are with you at what I know must be a very difficult time for you and your family. I have fond memories of working with you at the Providence Journal.
Dear Thomasine,
Your husband sounds wonderful. This is heartbreaking. You are much loved and admired by all who know you. My heart is with you.
Susan
Dear Thomasine and family
I am an exhibition cook at MIT Labs. Jim was one of my regular customers, and if he wasn’t at my station he would be in the cafeteria somewhere getting his lunch, so I almost saw him on a daily basis.
If Jim was not my first customer of the day, he was definitely second or third. Jim really liked shrimp, whether it was in a stir fry or a salad, if that was my special for the day, Jim would be in line. I use to tease Jim all the time, and as a matter of fact the last time I spoke with him, I was teasing him because he just couldn’t stand still! J He would pace back and forth all while I was preparing his meal. I would say to him, “Jim you’re going to wear the floor out with all that pacing” , this in turn caused us both to laugh.
What was also enjoyable, while Jim was pacing, and I was cooking, was that we would have some of the coolest conversations, on topics ranging from music to the solar system to religion. I have a Christian website, on which I write bible based articles, and Jim was known for passing out my business cards to his musical guests at MIT, when he brought them over to my station for lunch. He did this on his own , I never asked him to do so, and I always thought that it was such a nice thing to do.
There were times when Jim would arrange for certain groups to come in and perform, and Jim would ask if it were possible to prepare certain foods for the group. And when we did he would always come back and thank us for our efforts, and the thanks were sincere.
Jim was a man who smiled often, and the photo on this website , I feel , really captures Jim’s personality of being in a deep discussion on a topic he’s passionate about.
I really enjoy all types of music, and have played a couple of instruments in the past, and I can always recall how passionate Jim was about music, as a matter of fact I used to call him “the music man”. Jim also use to keep me posted on the condition of the grand piano at MIT Labs. From what I could gather, Jim really took care of this beautiful musical instrument.
In closing I’d like to say I’m really going to miss Jim, and I am not alone concerning this. He was a man who touched a lot of people’s lives, and I am one. In the Christian faith we certainly believe in eternity, and therefore we are comforted in knowing that when a person leaves this life they move on to the next realm of their existence. This is one reason I share the gospel because I believe , and scripture teaches us , that there is more to life than what we see with our natural eyes. Therefore I encourage all of those who are grieving and are deeply saddened by Jim’s passing, to read what the bible says about this matter of death, and what happens when it comes upon us. I think after doing so , some of your sorrow will be lifted from your heart.
Sincerely
Leon Hagins
I worked for Mr. Anderson for a short time as the departments were being moved around. He was a very nice person and funny and didn’t make work too hard for me. I only have good memories of him. RIP, Sir. My condolenses to the family of Mr. Anderson.