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Terry Anderson remembered as a dedicated teacher, friend |
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Wednesday, 12 December 2007 |
Cliff Buchan
News Editor
To her colleagues, Terry Anderson is best remembered as a consummate professional who led by example in the classroom and in her personal life as a friend and someone who inspired others until the end.
Anderson, who spent 34 years as an elementary teacher in the Forest Lake system, died on Wednesday, Dec. 5 after fighting a series of illness that left her hospitalized for many months. She was 59.
Penny O’Brien, who grew up with Anderson in Forest Lake and taught with her here, said she will remember her friend much in terms of an Olympian who fought to the end.
“She didn’t make it, but she’s carrying the torch in another land now,” O’Brien said. “She had a heart of gold.”
Anderson, who retired from the district in 2004, managed 34 years of teaching here while valiantly battling a series of personal health issues, O’Brien said. Anderson managed to defeat cancer a number of years ago only to be hit with multiple sclerosis in her final years of teaching.
She worked through the early stages of MS and continued to volunteer in the classroom after retiring. She fell ill this spring and spent most of her final months hospitalized with MS and the return of cancer, colleagues said this week.
True professional
Fellow teachers remembered Anderson this week as a true professional who went to extra measures to help kids, families and young teachers.
Kelly Duncan met Anderson when she came to work her in 1988. They worked as a team in Duncan’s second year on a Grade 1-2 project. To Duncan, Anderson was a mentor who proved invaluable to her career.
“She taught me so much about teaching, children and learning,” Duncan said.
Duncan said Anderson’s passion for reading led her to organize a parent’s reading night to help stimulate parents and kids.
“She just gave everything to this school,” Duncan said. “She just had so much passion. She was the most professional teacher I’ve ever known.”
As a close friend, Duncan said she admired Anderson’s courage in maintaining her career while fighting a personal health crisis.
“She never let it stop her,” Duncan said. “There were a few years when it was difficult for her.”
On a personal note, Duncan said she learned much about parenting from Anderson. Like Anderson, Duncan is the mother of three boys. “She taught me a lot about being the mother of three boys.”
O’Brien knew Anderson growing up in Forest Lake and saw her as a fellow professional as both came to work in the district.
“She was willing to try anything that was best for kids,” O’Brien said. “She recognized the importance of diversity when it wasn’t popular. She touched a lot of families in Forest Lake.”
“She never feared change — she embraced it,” Duncan added.
Funeral details
Theresa Ann (Herzog) Anderson moved to Forest Lake with her family when she was in Grade 7.
She graduated high school here in 1966 and was class valedictorian. In high school, she was active in French Club and worked on the student newspaper, the Forest Breeze.
She earned an elementary teaching degree from St. Benedict’s in St. Joseph and returned home to teach in 1970 She taught at Linwood and Forest Lake elementary schools.
In addition to teaching, she became active in the Forest Lake Education Association and became the association’s first female president.
A Mass of Christian Burial was Monday, Dec. 10 at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Forest Lake, with interment at Calvary Cemetery, Forest Lake.
She is survived by husband, Jerry L. Anderson; sons Erik M. (Cindy), Joshua K (Patricia Schultz), Jared R. (Brigitta Meyer; step-daughters Kristene L. (Christopher) Hentz and Kathryn L. Anderson; eight grandchildren; brother, Michael (Anita) Herzog; sister, Susan (Ronnie) May; other relatives and friends.
Memorials are suggested to the National MS Society, Minnesota Chapter, 200 12th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55415.
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