Gerald E. Anderson

Gerald E. “Gerry” Anderson, of Weston, MA, passed away peacefully on November 27, 2022, surrounded by the love of his family. He was 91 years old and lived a full and wonderful life.

Growing up in a small town in Minnesota, Gerry developed a passion for numbers and accounting in his youth, deciding on his occupational path early in life. He would build an impressive career as a certified public accountant with the Minneapolis office of Arthur Andersen over the course of 13 years and cemented his legacy working for the Commonwealth Energy System, previously known as the New England Gas & Electric Association, between 1966 and 1991. Commonwealth Energy was a gas and electric utility company with operations in eastern Massachusetts that has since been acquired and assimilated into Eversource. Gerry retired at the start of 1992, having served as president and CEO of Commonwealth Energy for the previous 18 years.

Before embarking on his professional path, Gerry began his higher education at Worthington Junior College near his home in southern Minnesota. Even though Worthington was small, he encountered there some of the best teachers he would find anywhere, including great economics and accounting professors. Earning an Associate of Arts degree in 1950, he transferred his credits to the University of Minnesota, graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1952. He remained a loyal alumnus and Golden Gopher fan for the rest of his life. After graduation, Gerry served in the U.S. Air Force from 1952 to 1953, holding the rank of first lieutenant prior to his release from active duty.

Retired since 1992, in recent years Gerry has dedicated time, effort and resources to Our Minds Matter (OMM), a mental health awareness organization that provides education, resources and support in the prevention of adolescent suicide. Founded by son Tim and his wife Sue in 2012 following the unfortunate and untimely death by suicide of their youngest son Josh, this non-profit provides mental health support to students through Our Minds Matter clubs in middle and high schools. These OMM clubs are driven by a peer-to-peer approach designed to spread the message that suicide is never the answer. Gerry’s granddaughter Lauren Anderson has served as Our Minds Matter’s executive director since its inception and has guided the organization through impressive growth, building a strong reputation throughout the Washington, DC area, with its impact across the US and beyond just beginning to be felt. Gerry took great pride in the organization’s progress and his ability to provide financial and advisory support, and he hoped that this would be part of a lasting legacy, which he said  “would not have been possible without the consistent and positive help given to me over 66 years by my wife, Mary, and our three children and their families. It was truly a whole family effort.”

In addition to these personal and professional achievements, Gerry was active with the United Way of Eastern New England, the Swedish Council of America, and Massachusetts General Hospital, and served on the boards of directors of Baybanks/Harvard Trust Co. and Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. He was a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Financial Executives Institute, Beta Gamma Sigma, and Beta Alpha Psi. Gerry was selected for inclusion in multiple editions of Who’s Who in America and received the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement award from Marquis Who’s Who in recognition of outstanding contributions to his profession and the community.

Perhaps more important than all of these, though, Gerry was effective and successful on the one hand, but a good-hearted and fun-loving soul on the other. He retired early to care for the love of his life, Mary, for the final 30 years of her life. Family came first, and he was probably happiest surrounded by his loved ones at holiday meals or watching one of his many favorite sports teams compete. He was a remarkable father, grandfather, role model and patriarch – the quintessential good and decent man.

Gerry was predeceased by his wife Mary and grandson Josh Anderson, and leaves his sister Phyllis Erickson, children and spouses, Todd and Lynn Anderson of Hingham, MA, Tim and Sue Anderson of Vienna, VA and Kristin and William May of Palm Desert, CA, and adult grandchildren Tyler, Lauren, Gillian, Erin and Melissa Anderson.

A Celebration of the Life of Gerry Anderson will be held on Monday, April 10, 2023 at 11:00 AM at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Weston, MA. All are welcome. Memorials in Gerry’s name can be made to Our Minds Matter, 1300 Carpers Farm Way, Vienna, VA 22182.