Grafton – Glenn Bruce Anderson passed away August 24th after a year long battle with Non Hodgkin Lymphoma.
He leaves behind his wife of 37 years Susan (Parker) Anderson, his two daughters Rebecca Anderson, her husband Mark Robinson, their daughter Blake Robinson, and Gretchen Anderson. He also leaves his sister Janice E Olesen and his niece Kiersten O’Donnell and her husband Cory, cousins, many friends and many cats.
He was born January 4th, 1943 to Viking O. and Evelyn R. (Vaundell) Anderson and lived most of his life in Grafton. He and Susan were married on Nantucket. They settled in Holden, where they lived for 12 years before returning to Grafton.
After graduating from Grafton High School, Glenn joined the United States Marine Corps. and served for 6 years in the reserves. He attended college receiving a Bachelors in Criminal Justice and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. He joined the Massachusetts State Police in 1966 serving the Commonwealth and its people for 36 unblemished years. He rose through the ranks of Corporal, Sergeant, Staff Sergeant. Lieutenant, Captain and Major, ending his career as Lieutenant Colonel/Deputy Superintendent. His family, especially his mother Evelyn were so very proud of him. He was known as a tough but fair leader and for his dry wit and humor.
He enjoyed many trips to Disney World with his family, also to Hawaii, where he was lost for several hours in the pineapple maze and participated in a pig hunt, Niagara Falls and Europe. He especially enjoyed searching for the Loch Ness Monster, riding the London Eye, visiting the Sherlock Holmes Museum, and drinking champagne at the top of the Eiffel Tower. He loved traveling to Delaware to visit his eldest daughter, home to Stella “the best dog ever”. He even visited his youngest daughter in the Everglades to help hunt Burmese Pythons and managed to avoid becoming alligator bait.
Glenn was instrumental in starting a monthly luncheon group with his high school classmates where many laughs and memories were shared. He also enjoyed sitting on his front porch rocking chairs or at Brody’s sharing stories, laughs and politics for hours with neighbors and many friends. Goretti’s Supermarket was his go to for many years for coffee, danish and talking politics with friends and employees.
He was an aficionado on all 50’s music, enjoying many nights listening with Frank “Foxman” Capezzuto (deceased). Glenn always knew the title of the song, the record label and what was on the flip side. He enjoyed cruising around in his 1958 Chevrolet Impala, the “Heavy Chevy”, attending car shows, even winning quite a few trophies.
He started following the Boston Braves with his Dad and the Braves remained his favorite team, even though the Atlanta Braves almost always lost the World Series. And of course, spent many years perfecting his lawn and gardens, to the envy of his neighbors. One year for Father’s day he was lucky enough to attend a Braves game in Queens, New York at Shea Stadium. He introduced his girls to baseball attending many Red Sox and Paw Sox games over the years. As a family we visited Cooperstown, touring the Baseball Hall of Fame and watching an old timers game.
Glenn was so proud of his daughters and their accomplishments. They were the light of his life and he gave them a good foundation and model to follow, helping them to become the strong successful women they are. His proudest moments were watching them graduated college and then when Rebecca graduated Law School and Gretchen received her masters in Biology. He was lucky enough to be able to attend many of their sporting events during their high schools years. He was the loudest fan, usually to the dismay of the coach. There is no doubt that many of his friends have heard of his three year old Granddaughter Blake and his love for her. She took a shine to her “Gandpa” and although their time together was shortened they left a lasting impression on each other.
We love you, Dad. All that’s left to say is, “God save the Queen.”
Visiting hours will be at Roney Funeral Home on September 7th from 9 -11am, followed immediately by a brief service in the funeral home at 11 with burial following at Pine Grove Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in his memory to Tunnel to Towers, online at t2t.org, or mail 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306. Or to a charity of your choice.
