Mary Anasta Anderson

Mary Anasta Anderson, known as Anne, age 79, of Dobbs Ferry, NY and Vero Beach, FL, died peacefully

in her home on June 23, 2023 after a six-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Born in Nova Scotia,

Canada in 1944, Anne spent her early years in a rural community with limited resources, attending a one

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room schoolhouse and walking to class in snowshoes during the cold winter months. Despite a

challenging childhood, her intelligence, determination, curiosity and genuinely kind spirit led her to

countless blessings and achievements.

At age 14, Anne moved to Cape Cod, Mass., and graduated from Chatham High School in 1962. She

studied Fine Arts at Boston University and soon after, moved to New York City to begin a long career as a

flight attendant with Eastern Airlines. Her air travel experiences included a hijacking to Cuba, which

reinforced her unflappable, calm nature.

In Manhattan, she met Richard Anderson, a life-long New Yorker whom she married on October 3, 1970

in Chatham, Mass. Together they traveled the world, spending their honeymoon on safari in east Africa

before settling in Pelham, NY to raise their two children, Erik and Leslie. Today, their family has grown to

include six grandchildren ranging in age from 18 to 11.

Anne was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother for more than fifty years and loved supporting her

family’s various pursuits, including nearly 20 marathons, countless high school and college lacrosse

games and multiple youth hockey tournaments in Minnesota and Canada. She delighted in her

grandchildren and worked hard to make them feel seen, heard and appreciated for the unique gifts they

bring to the world.

Anne’s first language was French and she maintained her love of the language and French culture

throughout her life with trips to France and her beloved French language group in Pelham, the “French

Tea.” Anne also loved the arts and historic architecture and was a long-time member and docent at

Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum in the Bronx, as well as a member of the Manor Club and Christ Church in

Pelham. After moving to Dobbs Ferry on the Hudson River, she and Richard focused on the

redevelopment of the Dobbs Ferry Waterfront Park. She and Richard continued to travel extensively

throughout their marriage and enjoyed many trips with family and friends. Anne also loved the seaside,

creating life-long memories with her family at the Cape and, in more recent years, in Vero Beach, Florida.

Anne is survived by her husband of 53 years, Richard; son Erik (Karina Luci); grandsons Reid and Kyle

Anderson and granddaughter Brooke Anderson of Greenwich, CT; daughter Leslie (David Williamson);

granddaughters Claudia and Colby Williamson and grandson Chase Williamson of Edina, MN; and

brother Mark Sullivan (Anne) of Brewster, Mass. A memorial service will be held in celebration of Anne’s

life on Saturday, July 22, 2023 at 10:30am at Christ Church in Pelham, NY. Donations in Anne’s memory

may be made to the Friends of Dobbs Ferry Waterfront Park, P.O. Box 543, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522.