Obituary of Gordon A. Anderson

NAUGATUCK- Gordon Arthur Anderson, 95, Naugatuck, died on November 24, 2014. He was the husband of Irene (Gustafson) Anderson. Mr. Anderson was born in Waterbury, CT, the son of the late Carl and Christine (Olson) Anderson. He was a graduate of Naugatuck High School in 1937 and of North Park College, Chicago, Illinois, in 1940, and the University of Minnesota in 1942 with a degree in Chemical Engineering with distinction. He enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1943 and following training at Princeton University in Electrical Engineering and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he was assigned as Radar Officer, Lt.jg., on the USS Magoffin APA199, participating in the initial landing wave at the battle of Okinawa. He sailed 90,000 miles in the Pacific while on APA199. Following his discharge from the Navy in 1946 and his marriage, he and his wife settled in Naugatuck. He was employed by the former Uniroyal Chemical Company and served in various capacities, including Plant Manager at Baton Rouge plants and Geismar, Louisiana. He retired as Vice-President of Chemical Operations in 1984. At the time of his retirement, his responsibilities included President of Synpol, Inc., of Port Neches, Texas; several joint ventures as Chairman of the Board of Rubicon, Inc., Geismar, Louisiana; President of Monochem, Inc. Geismar, Louisiana and Board of Directors, Petroquimica Argentina, S.A. Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was also responsible for the operations of the Army Ammunitions Plants at Joliet, Illinois and Newport, Indiana. In Naugatuck, he was president at the start of the Naugatuck Treatment Company. He served in many capacities in civic organizations in Naugatuck and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, including membership in the Rotary Club, City Club, and Country Club of Baton Rouge. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Naugatuck YMCA, President of the Naugatuck Council of Churches in 1955, and member of the Board of Trustees, Naugatuck Savings Bank from 1969-1989. He was a Corporator and member of the Board of Trustees at Waterbury Hospital and Chairman from 1988-1989. He was also a member and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Greater Waterbury Health Network and a member of the investment and Governance Committees of the Hospital. Professionally, he was a member of the Baton Rouge Junior Achievement and a member of the Board of Directors Louisiana Chemical Association. He was also the Uniroyal Chemical representative to the Connecticut Business & Industry Association, a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, and the American Chemical Society. He served in many leadership capacities in churches in Naugatuck and Baton Rouge; and was currently a member of the Congregational Church of Naugatuck. He was a former member of the Country Club of Waterbury and the Waterbury Club and a current member of the American Legion Post #17 of Naugatuck. Besides his wife of 68 years, he leaves two sons and a daughter, James B. Anderson PhD and his wife, Carol PhD of Mystic, CT; Thomas P. Anderson, MD and his wife Sharon Samela of Cheshire, CT; Jeanne E. Anderson PhD and her husband, Jonathan P. March, DO, of Newbury, MA, and two grandson, Galen T. March and Erick A. March. Two sisters predeceased him. Arrangements: Memorial services Saturday, November 29, 2014, 1:00 p.m. at the Congregational Church of Naugatuck, 9 Division Street, Naugatuck. Burial with military honors is at the convenience of the family in Grove Cemetery. There are no calling hours. Arrangements by Alderson-Ford Funeral Home of Naugatuck, 201 Meadow Street, Contributions: The Congregational Church of Naugatuck, 9 Division Street, Naugatuck, CT 06770.