On January 29, 2014, Gordon W. Anderson, Sr., 79, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Korean Conflict, died peacefully in the Beverly Hospital following a brief illness. With him at the time were his beloved four children and sisters. He was the husband of the late Dorothy (Nickerson) Anderson, who died in March of 1999. They had shared forty-two years of marriage.
Mr. Anderson – Gordy, Grampy, Swede or Coach to everyone who knew him – was born January 5, 1935 in Gloucester to the late Vincent and Edith (Burgess) Anderson. He was a lifelong resident and attended Gloucester High School. In November of 1952, at the age of seventeen, Gordy enlisted with the U.S. Marine Corps. Upon completion of basic training at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, he was stationed in Japan and was honorably discharged at the rank of Corporal in April of 1955.
After returning home from the service, Gordy married Dorothy, the love of his life, and they began a family, which would grow to four children, two girls and two boys, and eventually include 11 grandchildren and two great-grandsons.
Gordy was a fixture on the Gloucester waterfront for many, many years, working as a longshoreman for Elliott Stevedoring. He was a passionate golfer, never missing the opportunity to play a round at any of Cape Ann’s local courses, or to join his golf buddies on one of their weekend golf get-a-ways.
He was also actively involved in the local softball scene, playing for many years with the Cape Ann Vets before giving up his spikes to coach Busy Bee and the Lobster Trap for 36 years. He also coached Junior League baseball for the American Legion with his life-long friend Clayton Morrissey, and was a member of the Capt. Lester S. Wass Post #3, American Legion, the Doucette-Linguard VFW Post #1634 and the Amvets Post #32 of Gloucester. In his later years, one of his daily pleasures was to take his granddog Dottie to many of our local beaches for a run, or for an excursion around town.
Of all his passions, however, his family was his greatest source of pride. He is survived by his daughter, Sonia, wife of Ron Goulart, step-grandsons Brian, husband of Leah Goulart, and their son, Jackson, and Shaun Goulart; his son, Gordon W. Anderson, Jr. and his children, Chassidy, Keyan and Brietanya Anderson; his daughter, Heidi, wife of Kevin Nunes and her children,Vanessa Bader, companion of John Parker, and their son, Ryker, Samantha and Davia Bader and their child, Alexandria Nunes; his son, Brian, husband of Jennifer (Silva) Anderson and their children, Tiffany and Lilly Anderson. He is also survived by his sisters, June, wife of Jack Lucas, Carol, wife of Bill Hubbard, and Sharon, wife of Tony Militello; a brother Tommy Anderson; sisters-in-law, Jeanne Anderson and Anne Anderson and many nieces and nephews. He was also predeceased by his brothers, Robert and Jack Anderson.
Military honors will be rendered on Tuesday morning in Beechbrook Cemetery, West Gloucester at 11:30 a.m. The family cordially invites all of their dad’s friends and family to attend. There are no visiting hours. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to Care Dimensions (formerly Hospice of the North Shore), 75 Sylvan St., Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923 or www.CareDimensions.org.