ROBERT Louis ANDERSON
Feb. 22, 1932-Feb. 28, 2018
palo alto, ca

Robert Louis Anderson, 1932-2018

An inspirational human, Bob Anderson transformed himself from an angry man to a gentle, fun-loving, (mostly) patient, always smiling guy. And he transformed himself from an alcoholic to a non-alcholic who didn’t drink alcohol for 51 years. He was a positive life force for struggling kids at Menlo-Atherton, for dying clients of hospice, and for many friends and family.

After surviving a massive heart attack and quintuple bypass in 1984, he learned to reduce health-threatening stress. He retired in 1988 and, with Mickie, led an adventurous and active life, teaching conversational English in Russia, China, Turkey and Thailand, traveling world-wide, mostly by bike, until he died peacefully in his sleep , at age 86.

Bob was a Ph.D scientist. He figured out that management wasn’t his forte or his love and rejected the typical path of becoming a manager in order to remain, as he said, “at the research bench.” He worked mostly on mechanisms of carcinogenesis for the Proctor and Gamble Company for 28 years, published 38 peer-reviewed articles, and was well known and honored in his scientific community.

Bob was born in Oak Park, Illinois. He was predeceased by his parents, three older brothers and his daughter Teresa Little. He will be missed by his family and all those he mentored. Most of all he will be missed by his family, his daughter Meredith Anderson, step sons Adam Winkler and Conrad Winkler, their most loved wives Rose Bai and Julia Winkler, granddaughters Becky and Ellie Winkler and his wife and best friend, Mickie Winkler.