[MN-at-Large] In memory of Tom Anderson

[David Andrews]

>\
He was also the President of the second Chapter I joined in the NFB, 
the Lawrence, Kansas Chapter.\

Dave





>Some of you may have read that Tom Anderson passed away on Tuesday.  In
>recent years, Tom was the president of our national Communities of Faith
>division and was currently living in Kansas.  Tom spent a number of years in
>Colorado and was the braille teacher at the Colorado Center.
>
>I am writing about him  because Tom grew up here in Minnesota and got his
>start in the NFB here.  He was very active in the St. Cloud area when he was
>here.  As a result, many of us have maintained contact with him over the
>years.  Below is a post from Dan Burke that appeared on the Colorado-Talk
>list that I feel described Tom very well.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Colorado-Talk <colorado-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Dan
>Burke via Colorado-Talk
>Sent: Wednesday, August 30, 2023 9:20 PM
>To: NFB of Colorado Discussion List <colorado-talk at nfbnet.org>
>Cc: Dan Burke <burke.dall at gmail.com>
>Subject: [Colorado-Talk] In memory of Tom Anderson
>
>Dear friends and Federation family -
>
>Julie and I are heart-broken to tell you that Tom Anderson, the beloved
>first-Braille teacher at CCB and one of the two staff members who opened the
>doors of the Colorado Center for the Blind in 1988 with Diane McGeorge, died
>Tuesday afternoon. Tom had been in the hospital for about two weeks in
>Kansas where he and his wife, Linda returned after tom's retirement from CCB
>in 2015. He passed quietly from this life with his dear Linda holding one of
>his hands and his twin sister Toni holding the other.
>
>Tom had cancer nearly 20 years ago, but was cancer free until about two
>years ago. He entered treatments and finished them early this year. He and
>Linda came to the national convention in Houston, and it was wonderful for
>all of us to see him. He was so obviously excited to be back at the
>convention again. But he became ill after they returned home and eventually
>was hospitalized.
>
>Tom was a man of faith and a minister, having his own small church in
>Littleton for a number of years. He was also a staunch, life-long
>Federationist, holding many offices  at the chapter, state and national
>levels, including the Denver Chapter President, the NFB of Kansas state
>board, and the long-time President of the NFB in Communities of Faith.
>
>Tom was such a good man, a dedicated and patient teacher of Braille to
>hundreds of blind students over the 27 years he taught at the Center, if
>also exacting and sometimes stern. He embraced his nickname, "Dr.
>Dots," loved to page students late for his class with, "Henrietta, the dots
>await your fingers," and had one of the most endearing and genuine laughs
>ever heard in the halls of CCB. No one had a laugh like Tom's, and he
>laughed often and easily.
>
>Julie spoke with Linda this afternoon. At this time, there is no public
>memorial scheduled. Please send Linda and the family your prayers and
>positive thoughts.
>
>Rest in peace, dear, kind and loving friend and teacher to so many.
>
>Julie and Dan
>
>--
>Dan Burke
>
>National Federation of the Blind of Colorado Legislative Co-chair
>
>President, NFB of Denver
>
>"Blindness is not what holds you back.  You can live the life you want!"
>
>My Cell:  406.546.8546
>Twitter:  @DallDonal
>
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