Marc Eric Anderson

COMMANDER MARC E.ANDERSON STUARTS DRAFT, VA... Commander Marc Eric Anderson, aged 66, passed away August 2with his family nearbyafter a protracted battle with Mesothelioma. Born on May 9, 1946, Marc spent his childhood on Kodiak Island, developing an abiding appreciation for Alaska's isolated beauty. He earned his Bachelor's Degree at the University of Colorado, Boulder. After college, he served in the U.S. Navy for 23 years, completing three tours in Vietnam. During those years he was stationed in Washington, California, and Nova Scotia, and he never tired of the ocean. Even so, after retiring, Marc and his wife Patricia traded the coast for the Shenandoah Valley's rolling hills, where they've lived for 19 years. While in Virginia, Marc worked as a software engineer at Duratech (Waynesboro), and most recently at Avionics Specialties (Charlottesville). Marc was an avid reader, and he appreciated music enough to sing "Flowers on the Wall" aloud even though he was tone-deaf. There was little he loved more dearly than sleep, but he'd brew a perfect cup of coffee for anyone with the good sense to keep early morning chatter to a minimum. He was also a confident putterer with a healthy disregard for instruction manuals and advance planning. Regardless, he proved himself to be a successful mechanic, mason, carpenter, plumber, electrician, landscaper, and jack-of-almost-any-trade when the situation required it. Dogs were Marc's devoted fans after the briefest of encounters, and though he was allergic to cats and tried to tell them so, they generally responded by seeking out his lap above all others. As remembered by his son-in-law, Mike, he was remarkable man who "lived a life of quiet dignity." His daughter, Patty, credits him with helping her to understand the worldand herselfby being a gifted and empathetic storyteller. His wife, Patricia, describes him as "an entirely generous man who was devoted to his family." In addition to his wife, daughter, and son-in-law, Marc is survived by his mother, Pauline, of Manson, WA; his brothers Paul, Chris, and Bart; his sisters Jordis and Marla; and many other relatives and friends. He was predeceased by his father, Anton. Scruffy the dog doesn't know what to do with herself, and she won't stop missing him. Neither will the rest of us. A memorial service will take place Saturday, August 11, at Mount Carmel Presbyterian Church at 2:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to the International Mesothelioma Program (IMP)/ at Brigham & Women's Hospital/ 116 Huntington Ave. 5th fl./ Boston, MA 02116 OR to Mt. Carmel Presbyterian Church/ 6410 Lee Jackson Highway/ P.O. Box 8/ Steele's Tavern, VA 24476.