RICHARD BRUCE ANDERSON
MAY 24, 1937 - AUGUST 13, 2020
Richard Bruce Anderson, 83, was born on Monday, May 24, 1937 in Syracuse, New York and passed away on Thursday, August 13, 2020 in Syracuse. He was the son of the late Ivar C. Anderson and Mildred (Edgerton) Anderson. He married Patricia Ann Nash on May 30, 1961 at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Syracuse. The couple had two sons, David Bruce and Jeffrey Michael.
A graduate of Smith Technical High School in Syracuse, Richard built a strong technical career as a mechanical engineer at Carrier Corporation and General Electric. Richard left Syracuse in 1963 to advance his defense industry engineering career with positions at General Dynamics in Rochester, New York and subsequent career moves spanning 40 years with defense industry contractors located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the cities of Livermore, Fremont, San Leandro and Sunnyvale, California. He retired from Applied Materials in 2001 to Henderson, Nevada. After enjoying the Las Vegas lifestyle, the Andersons returned to California in 2004, settling in Modesto, to be near children and grandchildren. Drawn by strong family ties their lives came full circle with their return to Syracuse in March 2017.
Richard was a man of varied and eclectic interests from collecting art, antiques and wine to cars, guns, and tools. An avid reader, with an appetite for intrigue, suspense and political genres, he was a regular at the local library. Much like his father, Richard enjoyed “tinkering” and “puttering” in his garage and basement workshops. Thorough and meticulous in his work, Richard took great pride in applying his problem-solving and critical thinking skills to car and home repairs. Never one to miss a “deal” Richard especially enjoyed making the rounds at neighborhood garage sales. He marveled at his new found treasures and giving these objects a new home.
In addition to his extensive business travel in the continental United States, Richard also enjoyed vacation travel to Hawaii, the Virgin Islands, Canada, Lucca and Rome, Italy and Spadafora, Sicily.
He was preceded in death by his son David Bruce Anderson; brothers, Robert C. and Jack E. Anderson and sisters Jean Anderson Piraino and Mary Lou Anderson Ruoff, and nephew, Robert B. Anderson, Sr.
Survivors include his loving and devoted wife of 59 years, Patricia Anderson of Syracuse; son Jeffrey Michael Anderson (Marie) of Hayden, Idaho; grandsons Michael Anderson, Matthew Anderson and Nicholas Anderson (Paris) of Modesto, California and Ian Anderson (Ashley Ruskey) of Arlington, Virginia; granddaughter Mariah Anderson of Modesto, California; great-grandchildren Kayden, Magnolia and Gracelynn David Anderson of Modesto, California; and sister-in-laws Judy Nash Hull of Caneadea, New York and Mary Claire Nash Prinz (Daniel) of Black Lake, New York. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, great-great nieces and great-great nephews, as well as his loyal canine companion, Rudy. Through marriage Richard was embraced by the large, loving Paglia Family including James Paglia (Bernadette), Michael A. Paglia (Jasmin), Michael F. Paglia and Christopher Paglia. In addition, with his return to Syracuse, Richard also enjoyed weekly Sunday Suppers with a new extended family community including niece Mary Jean Piraino (Ronald Karnya), nephew Jay Piraino, and dear friends Patricia and Rocco DiMento, Donna and Michael Skrocki, Elaine Bernardon, and Ruth Maugeri.
Per Richard’s request there will be no services. Private interment at Woodlawn Cemetery in Syracuse, New York at a later date. Please consider a donation to the American Heart Association, the National Kidney Foundation or a charity of your choice in his memory.