Marilyn Anderson, 1926 – 2016

— from Sue Mauermann for the Anderson family —

Marilyn Anderson in front of the Orcas School Music classroom.

Marilyn Anderson, 89, died peacefully at her Eastsound home on April 22^nd, basking in the kind words and gestures from people she loved (oh how she enjoyed the music, laughter, chocolate, and chardonnay!).  Abiding by her favorite motto – “Prior planning precludes poor performance” – Marilyn left a legacy of outstanding accomplishments.

Marilyn was a Pacific Northwest product, born in Seattle, Washington to Thyra and Bud Anderson. She spent her childhood in Bellingham and her teen years back in Seattle, graduating from Ballard High school in 1944. During that time, Marilyn, or Andy as she was commonly called, developed her love of music, playing bugle at Camp Kirby and Camp Sealth, and learning to play the violin and trumpet. After graduating from the University of Washington, she took a road trip to California with friends, and ended up working at Yosemite National Park.

In 1951, Marilyn joined the Army as a second lieutenant to train as a physical therapist – a career choice that led to numerous honors and accolades.  Upon graduating from the Army Physical Therapy course at the Medical Field Service School, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas, she was assigned to several Army hospitals throughout the U.S. and Germany, including Tacoma, WA, Valley Forge, PA, Neubrucke, Germany, San Francisco, CA, and Fort Benning, GA. She also served in the Army Medical Specialist Corps Recruiting Command, which gave her the chance to travel to college campuses across the country. In 1963, Marilyn earned a Master’s degree in physical therapy from Stanford University, and then came full circle by joining the faculty of the Physical Therapy Program at the Medical Field Services School at Fort Sam Houston. She was later appointed Director of the program, and is credited as being a driving force for many improvements to the program, including the granting of a graduate degree through Baylor University. Before retiring from the Army in 1973 at the rank of Colonel, Marilyn moved to Washington, D.C. when she was appointed Assistant Chief, AMSC and Chief, Physical Therapist Section, Office of the Surgeon General.

Marilyn cherished her former students, and regularly traveled to San Antonio for alumni reunions. She also hosted many students who came to the Northwest to visit her. In the early ‘90s, the Alumni Association of the US ARMY- Baylor University recognized Marilyn’s many contributions to physical therapy and physical therapy education by establishing the Colonel Marilyn J. Anderson Distinguished Lecturer Series.  In 2012, they also honored her with their Outstanding Alumni Award.

While still early in her Army career, Marilyn planted the seeds for a later phase of her life by buying property on Crane Island in 1960. Soon after retiring, she moved there with her close friend Rachel Adams to spend the next 30 or so years building the amazing A² farm. Children loved to visit the donkeys, cows, and chickens, while neighbors enjoyed the fresh vegetables, milk and eggs. As the farm grew over the years, it included a sod-roofed house, an electric car, tractors, and a barn with a fully functioning milk-processing room. Of course, life on an island not accessible by ferry requires a reliable boat for transporting supplies and critters, so Marilyn and Rachel commissioned Jensen’s Shipyard in Friday Harbor to build Båten, a marvelous wooden tugboat designed by Jay Benford. They also obtained the first small fire truck for Crane Island, always at the ready in case of emergency. Marilyn spent many muddy hours organizing and trouble-shooting the Crane Island community water system with other island residents. Every visitor to their island paradise probably remembers being expected to adopt at least one small task aimed at maintaining or improving life for the residents. Haying, then loading the results into the round barn’s hayloft was summer fun for visitors over the years.

Traveling on Båten between Crane and Orcas, Marilyn and Rachel were heavily involved in various activities and organizations, including the Orcas library, the Orcas Island Chamber Music festival, OPALCO, the community band, OPAL Housing Trust, the Orcas Schools Musical Advocacy Group, which Marilyn helped found, the San Juan Preservation Trust and Friends of the San Juans. Marilyn also remained active in her professional life, serving on the board of the American Physical Therapists Association and coauthoring the association’s inaugural edition of an analysis of the physical therapy practice.

In 2001 Marilyn and Rachel moved from Crane to Mount Woolard on Orcas, building a house nearly identical to their one on Crane, complete with the sod roof. On Orcas, they continued their many philanthropic deeds, and were honored for their work in 2008 at the Orcas Island Community Foundation annual luncheon. In 2012, the Orcas elementary school music room was dedicated in honor of Marilyn’s “generosity and unrelenting support of Orcas Island’s students.”

After Rachel’s death in 2012, Marilyn moved to Emerald Heights, a retirement community in Redmond, Washington. Orcas never left her heart though, so she frequently traveled back to see friends and attend meetings. Eventually, she bought a small home in Eastsound, where she stayed while visiting and which she shared with her close friend, DD Glaze.

Marilyn is survived by her brother Keith and an extended family. The family gives its heartfelt thanks to Marilyn’s wonderful caregivers and friends, and the rest of her Orcas and Crane Island “family,” for providing the support that allowed our incredible sister and aunt to exit on her own terms, on the island she loved. A celebration of Marilyn’s life will be held on Saturday, June 25^th, at the Orcas Center. In lieu of flowers, please listen to your favorite music and consider donating to an Orcas Island charity.