Obituary of Roger Anderson

In Celebration of Roger Anderson's Life. Roger Anderson was born 51 years ago in Hollywood, CA, to Nick and Linda Anderson. His parents raised him as a youth in Canoga Park, CA, with his brother Mark, sisters Angie and Cindy, and an abundance of neighbors and friends on "Haynes Street" in the sunny suburbs near Pierce Agricultural College. At that time you could still smell the citrus trees of the San Fernando Valley and hear and feel occasional rocket engine tests conducted in the hills above Chatsworth. His father worked as an engineer for "Rocketdyne", the company that built those engines where ironically, later in life, Roger would also work. His duties would include real time data management during Space Shuttle launches, communication with NASA colleagues in Houston and Cape Canaveral, and after being certified as an Advanced Scuba Diver he would assist astronauts in their assembly of mock space stations in the world's largest swimming pool. As teenagers, Roger and Cindy moved with their parents to Kennewick, WA, and attended Kamiakin High School when Nick transferred to the Hanford site. Roger went on to Columbia Basin College where he was recognized as a gifted saxophone player in the jazz band having built on prior experience in youth bands. Throughout his life he played a multitude of instruments, wrote songs and music, and was a drummer in a band called "The Others" with musician co-workers. After Columbia Basin College, he worked for a while at Hanford, but returned to Sothern California where he pursued an aerospace industry career and also took journalism classes at Pierce College in Woodland Hills. He became editor of the newspaper and under his guidance they received a coveted national journalism award. That experience coupled with competitive spirit learned in earlier California high school sports helped advance and maintain his aerospace employment for 20 years. As a young man Roger gained an appreciation for nature and the wilderness from his parents who spent countless weekends camping and backpacking with their family. He later honed that skill to include mountaineering and rock climbing. He backpacked often for many days in the High Sierras, rappelled over the edge of Glacier Point 3200 feet above the Yosemite Valley floor, and in his twenties climbed Mount Rainier with his father for his father's fiftieth birthday. He also became an avid bicycle rider with friends Kevin, Kim, Neal, Larry, and the Dennett's trekking for many miles up and down the California coast and making loops around Lake Tahoe long before bike riding or outdoor activities were considered fashionable. An intelligent man, his friendships were deep and sincere. He had good pals, like Kevin, Preston, and Ken. He never married but was developing a close companionship with a special person and she is dear to our family. {em-}He passed away last Saturday where he wanted to be, in Southern California. He was way too young, and has left an empty void in those close to him that in time we hope to fill with good memories. He is survived by his closest friend Sheri and her daughter Lacey, his parents, his brother and sisters, nieces Kait and Kira, nephew Wyatt, brothers-in-law Jerry and Jim, sister-in-law Connie, her siblings and families of Denise and Chris, Vivian and Scott, Alan, Tina, and Connie's children Brandi and David, his children Aiden and Aubree who Roger would read "Sam I Am" to in different grouchy character voices, and recently there is Brandi and husband Kerry's new baby Cruz who he would have loved but hadn't met. He had many other relatives and close friends also grieving and missing him now ... most particularly the Graham and Kaveny families. A Celebration of his life will be arranged in the future, enabling family and friends from California to share with us together. In the meantime, condolences can be sent to: In Memory of Roger Anderson, 411 South Kellogg Street, Kennewick, WA, 99336. Published in Tri-City Herald on Oct. 20, 2013 Print | View Guest Book Helpful Links Additional Resources Donate to Charity How To Submit An Obituary Find Advice & Support Funeral Etiquette What to Say to the Bereaved Return to today's Funeral Notices for Tri-City Herald test Hide Share Remember with My Memorials Twitter Read more here: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tricityherald/obituary.aspx?n=roger-anderson&pid=167606127#storylink=cpy