Henry Anderson Jr.
families settled in Fairfield). Harry is also a descendant of William James of Scituate, Mass., who moved to Newport, R.I. ca. 1680. Brought up in Oyster Bay, N.Y., Harry was also the Commodore of Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club, Commode of the Revolting Colonist Outpost and an honorary member of yacht clubs extending from Long Beach, Calif. to Helsinki, Finland. He was a flag officer of nine different yacht clubs.
A graduate of Yale University, Harry completed his studies there in three and a half years, so he could join the United States Army in 1943. He served in World War II as a field artillery captain in Patton’s Third Army having landed at Normandy, D-Day Plus 30. He was a part of Patton’s historic campaign which helped to liberate Europe from the Nazis. After the war, Harry got his law degree from Columbia University, though he did not follow in the Anderson family tradition to practice law.
Harry always saw sailing as an educational experience and tirelessly supported and promoted it, whether as a yacht club officer, U.S. sailing director, college sailing advocate, Congressional Cup judge, financial supporter or advisor to many sailing organizations. Harry was actively associated with numerous educational institutions including Tall Ships America, University of Rhode Island, Yale University and the U.S. Naval Academy. Anderson chaired the U.S. Sailing Appeals Committee for 25 years, and had a hand in writing a good part of the racing rules of sailing during that tenure.
Harry was a devoted, lifelong researcher driven by a compelling curiosity about subjects ranging from the location of Captain Cook’s ships on the bottom of Newport Harbor, to the lives of his illustrious antecedents. He participated in comprehensive publications and films about railroad magnate Arthur Curtiss James, another collateral ancestor, and America’s third vice president, Aaron Burr. He was determined that those forgotten (James) or maligned (Burr) be accurately documented and assigned their proper places in history.
Anderson’s philanthropies included the Ransom Everglades School in Coconut Grove, Fla., his alma mater, where he was trustee for life. His name appears on the school’s gymnasium and sailing center. He was long involved as a champion of Yale, Class of ‘42, and University of Rhode Island sailing programs, having donated several fleets of boats and raised funds for sailing facilities, and as an advisor.
A longtime resident of Newport, R.I., Commodore Anderson sat on the boards of Tall Ships America, Seamen’s Church Institute, the U.S. Naval War College, the Rhode Island Marine Archeology Project, the Aaron Burr Association, the Fales Committee at the United States Naval Academy and the Foundation for the Preservation of Captain Cook’s Ships. Always a volunteer himself, no one worked harder. Anderson had a subtle way of snapping the whip that not only produced results, but brought him respect and admiration. He was often the silent person at the table whose succinct conclusions solved problems. His work continued well beyond the usual retirement age, including being a founding member of the University of Rhode Island Sailing Advisory Council when he was in his 90s, and even in his last month, working on his latest project, a book about William Rockefeller.
Harry’s awards and honoraria include Intercollegiate Sailing Association Hall of Fame; National Sailing Hall of Fame; Doctor of Laws from the University of Rhode Island (2009); The Beppe Croce Trophy (International Sailing Federation and International Yacht Racing Union); the Nathaniel Herreshoff Trophy (U.S. Sailing Foundation); Lifetime Service Award (Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association); Congressional Cup Scarlet Blazer; 33rd Congressional Cup (dedicated to HHA Jr); Post Captain’s Trophy (North American Station, Royal Scandinavian Yacht Clubs & Nylandska Jaktklubben); Bronze Star U.S. Army; Richard S. Nye Trophy (Cruising Club of America); Henry H. Anderson, Jr. Sail Training Scholarship Fund (American Sail Training Association); Lifetime Achievement Award (American Sail Training Association); W. P. Stephens Award (Mystic Seaport); Henry H. Anderson, Jr. Memorial Library (Seamen’s Church Institute).
Over the years and right up until the end, Harry would frequently write notes on an infinite number of topics, often on re-purposed paper and posted in a re-used envelope. It is quite likely that many who are reading this tribute to Harry are smiling as they may have received one or many such notes through the years. Some were pointed in its message; others were anecdotal in their reference, often quoting classic poetry and prose to make their point or deliver the message. All were something to behold and cherished upon reflection. Here is one of Harry’s notes to a friend in 2012: “Life’s pleasures are to be enjoyed in moderation, and apropos the cruising man, while we are not always borne with swelling sails before a blowing wind, neither do we drag out life struggling with headwinds; or befitting the fortune of the racing man ‘behind the foremost, ever before the foremost.’ One snatches one’s enjoyment of the brief and pleasant hours like a schoolboy in the spring holidays.” Harry Anderson’s was a life well lived.
Harry was predeceased by his beloved brother, Jim; and is survived by his brother, David; and 45 nephews, nieces and great-nephews and nieces.
Given the restrictions of COVID-19, there will be a small family gathering to lay the Commodore to rest. A memorial “gam” of suitable scale and good cheer will be scheduled when the circumstances allow for Harry’s friends to raise a glass to his memory and legacy.
Harry was very generous to causes he believed in. All were focused on the development of young people through experiential learning from being on the water. Gifts, in lieu of flowers, can be sent to any of the causes that were important to Harry: Yale Sailing Association, Ray Tompkins House, 20 Tower Parkway, New Haven, CT. 06511; Ransom Everglades School, Attn: Julie Rosenfeld, 3575 Main Highway, Coconut Grove, FL 33133; Henry H. Jr. Anderson Sailing Endowment, The University of Rhode Island Foundation, PO Box 1700 Kingston, RI 02881; Tall Ships America, 221 3rd St., Building 2, Suite 101, Newport, RI 02840.
Notes of condolences and reflections can be sent to: New York Yacht Club, Harbour Court, c/o General Managers Office, 5 Halidon Court, Newport, RI 02840 or please visit www.byles.com to post remembrances and photographs.
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