The Rev. Fred Anderson

STURBRIDGE: The Rev.Fred W. Anderson, 73, died peacefully on Sunday, May 31. He is survived by his beloved spouse, Alison of 49 1/2 years; their son, John and his spouse Sarah Dreshaj; their son Gregory and his husband Carl Eynatian; their daughter Susan and one grandson, Kurt Maiser.

Born in Lakewood, Ohio on August 17, 1941, he was the son of Wallace and Ernestine (McNutt) Anderson.Raised and educated in Loudonville, Ohio, he graduated from Loudonville High School as President of his class in 1959. He then attended and was 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.st.

When later called to Massachusetts, he served as Pastor of the Trinitarian Congregational UCC in Norton, and as Pastor of the United Congregational UCC in Worcester. Toward the end of his ministry he served an additional eight different UCC churches as transitional Pastor.

He was awarded the key to Worcester City in 1994 for his many years of service to the City by Mayor Raymond V. Mariano. He received several recognitions from the Civil Liberties Union for his dedication to helping the minorities in the City of Worcester. He was presented a plaque of recognition by his colleagues for outstanding service to the Inter-Faith Community of Worcester.

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 will be held on Thursday, June 4 at 1 P.M. at the Federated Church, Route 131, Sturbridge, MA. Gifts in his name may be made to the Fred W.Anderson Scholarship Fund at Andover Newton Theological School, 210 Herrick Road, Newton Centre, MA 02459-9876.