John J. ‘Jack’ Anderson

LAKEVILLE — John J. Anderson, 97, more commonly known to his friends and family as “Jack,” died peacefully on Aug. 15, 2013, surrounded by his family, in Tomball, Texas. Jack had been a resident of Lakeville for 32 years and was particularly known in the community for his many years of active involvement with the Salisbury Congregational Church.He was born, educated through college (BS in Electrical Engineering from Pratt Institute) and employed in the New York City area, but lived in suburban New Jersey for 22 years before retiring to Lakeville with his wife in 1971.Jack loved rural Connecticut. He spent many summers with his parents on Bantam Lake as well as two months during each of five years at the YMCA camp in Chester. He and his wife spent their honeymoon in Norfolk in 1941, and, after touring the area many times thereafter, picked Lakeville for their retirement.He was perhaps best known for his many years of active service in the Salisbury Congregational Church: as moderator for six years, as trustee and on the Building and Grounds Committee for five years, as deacon for six years including two years as chairman, and as chairman of the Search Committee that brought longtime pastor Richard Taber to the church.During his career as an electrical engineer he was elected to senior member grade and later became a member-for-life in the American Institute of Electrical Engineers. Jack served on the staff of that professional society, and its successor, for 31 years in various capacities, but mostly as the head of the Standards Department.He served for three years during World War II as an officer in the United States Navy, almost entirely on active duty aboard ship. During the war, he was part of both the Normandy and southern France invasions.Evelyn, an author and his wife for 55 years, died in 1996. He is survived by his son, the Rev. Lee A. Anderson of Houston, Texas; and two grandchildren.Immediately following his death, his family — standing on either side of his bed — sang what was known to be his favorite hymn: “Amazing Grace.” In recognition of Jack’s personal faith and hope in the amazing grace offered to each one of us through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the first verse to this hymn is quoted here as his own personal testimony to the Truth:“Amazing grace! How sweet the soundThat saved a wretch like me.I once was lost, but now am found,Was blind, but now I see.”Memorial contributions may be made anonymously and privately to Compassion International at www.compassion.com.The family will hold a private memorial service later this fall at Kensico Cemetery in Vallhalla, N.Y. Anyone who may wish to join the family at this service is invited to contact Jack’s grandson, Nathan Anderson, at nathan.alan.anderson@gmail.com.