Former mayor dies Former mayor dies (February 01, 2002)

Andy Anderson served in city government, Rotary Club, and Sister City program

By Candice Shih

Carl Elwood Anderson, the former Mountain View mayor, died on January 8 due to a heart attack while driving. He was 87.

Better known as "Andy," Anderson served on the City Council from 1968-1976 and was mayor in 1973. Prior to his council tenure, Anderson served on the Environmental Planning Commission from 1965-1968.

"Serving on the council was never working for him (because he found it so enjoyable)," said former mayor Pat Figueroa. "He stayed involved in the community afterwards."

Anderson also helped found the Mountain View-Iwata Sister City Program 27 years ago. Tom Horan, who worked with Anderson on the Sister City Program, said, "He was the Rock of Gibraltar."

Figueroa recalls that Anderson "was, in fact, one of the ones who helped secure the garden," referring to the Japanese rock garden in Pioneer Park that was donated by Iwata to celebrate the completion of City Hall.

Some of Anderson's ashes were sent to Japan, said Horan. "Anderson was part of the landscape there."

Philip Armi remembers Anderson's commitment to the Mountain View Rotary Club, of which they were both members. Armi said, "He was always a very loving, jovial, and congenial member of the rotary. He was always willing to give to our club and to the community."

Anderson's memory was honored at a service on January 22 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Los Altos, a church he helped found.

Anderson was born in Plymouth, Indiana on March 14, 1914 and married Olga Leaman on February 14, 1941. He was employed as an industrial engineer for the Bendix Brake Company, an automotive parts manufacturer.

The couple moved from Mountain View to Medford, Oregon in 1991 where Olga, currently resides. Anderson is survived by his wife, his children Mary Medford, Marjorie Likes, and John Anderson, eleven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.