Remembering Dave Anderson '47 P'72

Dear Sons and Friends of Xavier:

On October 4, Dave Anderson ’47 P’72 was called home to the Lord. Dave was a distinguished journalist, Pulitzer Prize winner, former trustee and member of the Xavier Hall of Fame. My time as president at Xavier has been filled with blessings. Coming to know Dave Anderson through the years is certainly one of those great blessings.

I first met Dave in 2004 when I joined the Xavier Board in my role as Provincial Assistant for Secondary Education. In the years that followed, I would always work hard to get the seat next to Dave at Board meetings. I was a bit star struck by him; in all honesty, I couldn’t believe my good luck in being on the Xavier Board at the same time as Dave Anderson. I loved reading his columns in The New York Times. He was smart, insightful and precise. He always seemed to “get it.” When I began my tenure as president in 2009, I had the opportunity to spend much more time with Dave. At President’s Council Dinners, homecomings, golf tournaments or lunch at Knickerbocker Country Club, I relished my time with him. At my first President’s Council dinner as president, Dave came up to me early in the evening and stated, “There are no good weekday dinners that go past 9 p.m.” Every year since, I always begin my remarks by noting the “Anderson Rule” is in effect and that we will have people on their way home before 9 p.m. Some would say Dave Anderson has been the only person ever successful in keeping my remarks short!

On several occasions, I had the opportunity to share a meal or a microphone with Dave and his longtime friend, George Kaftan ’45. Being together with Dave and George was always a wonderful reminder of the gift of friendship and the grace of Jesuit education through the years. Dave Anderson got it. I always felt that as much as he enjoyed his time with Muhammad Ali or Jack Nicklaus, he treasured his time with his family and friends even more. He knew what was important. He did his job and did it very well. He was fun. He was humble. He was good. Dave Anderson has been, and will be for years to come, a wonderful model for all Xavier’s Sons. He made our mission real. Xavier, the Church, and the world are better for it. He now marches on to the final victory and rests in God’s peace.

Our condolences to his children Stephen ’72, Mark P’05, Jo and Jean-Marie; his grandchildren Matthew, David ’05 and Christine; and his extended family, classmates and friends. Please keep Dave Anderson, his family and Xavier in your prayers.

Dave’s wake and funeral information can be found below.

Visitation:
Tuesday, October 9, from 3 p.m.-8 p.m.
Barrett Funeral Home
148 Dean Drive
Tenafly, NJ, 07670
http://www.barrettfuneralhome.net/

Mass of Christian Burial:
Wednesday, October 10, at 10 a.m.
Mt. Carmel Roman Catholic Church
10 County Road
Tenafly, NJ, 07670


Be assured of my prayers.

Sincerely,

Jack Raslowsky
President



OBITUARIES
Dave Anderson, Award-Winning Times Sportswriter, Dies at 89 (The New York Times)
Dave Anderson: Colleague, Friend, Role Model (The New York Times)
Dave Anderson, Longtime New York Times Columnist, Dies at 89 (ESPN.com)