The Rev. Mr. Fred Anderson died peacefully on Sunday, May 31, 2015. He is survived by his wife Alison of 49 1/2 years; their son John and his wife Sarah; son Gregory and his husband Carl; their daughter Susan and one grandson, Kurt Maiser.
Fred was born in Lakewood, Ohio in 1941, the son of Wallace and Ernestine (McNutt) Anderson. He was raised in Loudonville, Ohio. He graduated from Ottawa University and Andover Newton Theological School. He was ordained in 1967 in the United Church of Christ, Vermont Conference, where he began his ministry as pastor of the Pittsfield Congregational United Church of Christ.
When later called to Massachusetts, he served as Pastor of the Trinitarian Congregational UCC in Norton, and the United Congregational UCC in Worcester. Toward the end of his ministry he served an additional eight different UCC churches as a transitional Pastor.
Much of his ministry was focused on social justice. In 1963 he was jailed for three days with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in Williamston, NC for a nonviolent demonstration promoting racial integration. Throughout his years in ministry in Massachusetts, he served on various boards, councils and social justice task teams of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ. While serving in Worcester he helped to establish the Worcester Interfaith Coalition for the Homeless.
A Memorial Service celebrating Fred’s life was held on Thursday, June 4 at 1:00 PM at the Federated Church, 8 Maple Street (Route 131), Sturbridge, MA. The family had requested that those attending wear clothing with bright colors; preferring attendees not wear black. All were invited to attend a reception following the memorial service at the church.
Gifts in Fred's name may be made to the Fred W.Anderson Scholarship Fund at Andover Newton Theological School, 210 Herrick Road, Newton Centre, MA, 02459-9876.