Peter Lance Anderson, went to Pleasantdale grade school, class of '60. I don't recall him being at LT, but if so, just for a freshman or possibly sophomore years. He went to a prep school, in Rhode Island, I believe. Both he and his older brother died (4 years apart) the summers after each graduated from Yale. Horredous tragedy. Lovely soul.
Bob and Jerry, I remember Peter well and his brother Jim and younger siblings David and (forget his sister's name). We loved sledding at Anderson's hill. He
was a nice guy and good student. I think he went to LT for one year waiting for his brother, Jim, to finish prep school before Peter started. It was my understanding that Jim died when a car he was in was hit by a train when he was on the way home from a ski trip, and that Peter died in a skiing accident as he skiied on a non-public course--both after their junior years at Yale. My memory might be off a bit, but I think that's the case. A sad loss.
Ruth, Peter's sister's name was Lucia. I couldn't remember the little brother's name... thanks. Occasionally wonder how they fared. The kids were all 3 or 4 years apart as I recall. I see Gerry says Peter was hiking; I'd heard or read mountain climibing. But he died as the result of a fall somewhere in the Rockies, I beieve. I was really drawn to Peter and considered him a close friend. Though I suppose everyone did. ... he was just the nicest, sweetest soul. AJ and I spoke to him briefly after his brother Jim's funeral service. He thanked us for coming, and though overwhelmed, still in good humor. I thought both Peter and his brother had graduated Yale. If not, then maybe just one of them, but yes, at least through their third year. AJ's father and Mrs. Anderson were friends, both rosarians (grew roses), and told AJ that Mrs. Anderson "went crazy" after Peter's death and never recovered. If true, little wonder. I believe the family moved back east after Peter died.
This is Laurel Hilton’s husband Brad responding to the Peter Anderson string: I was introduced to Peter’s dad Jim Sr by Marty Smith (Wendy Smith’s dad) and played tennis with Marty, Jim Neely, Ev Bos and Jim at the Andersons’ private tennis court as well as weekly at the Oakbrook Racquet Club. I was 30 years their junior, but my lack of skill leveled the age advantage. We had an annual ski trip initially to Aspen which had to have been painful to Jim as he lost 2 of his son’s in Aspen related accidents: Jim Jr as noted died in an auto accident returning from an Aspen ski trip and Peter died on Maroon Bells when the shale trail collapsed as he was hiking. In tribute to his sons Jim was very active physically and financially in establishing the 10th Mt Division trail that runs through the Rocky Mountains ending in Aspen. During one of our last ski trips to Alta, UT, youngest son Davis joined the group. Davis had taken over as CEO of Chicago Extruding Co when Jim retired. Jim and Peggy sold their Hinsdale property and moved to New Haven CT to be close to Lucia’s children.
Here is Walt Rose’s note on Peter Anderson’s death. Because Peter went to prep school he would have repeated his last hs year, as Walt did, so in the summer of 68 he would have been going into his senior year. A family tragedy.
The Anderson story is very sad. Both boys left LT to attend Berkshire School where I went. In 1962, Jimmy, Peter’s older brother was killed in an auto accident driving back home from a ski trip in Aspen. Then in 1968, Peter, who become my good friend and Yale classmate, was killed in a freak accident hiking in the Mountains near of all places Aspen!
Thanks Laurel for the comprehensive update. Was always a mystery to me how the family fared after Peter died. Lost track of them completely after I went to Mexico (for school).
Gerald T. Williams
PETER DIED IN 1968 IN HIKING ACCIDENT IN CO.
Paul Nicol (Nic) Knappen
Peter Lance Anderson, went to Pleasantdale grade school, class of '60. I don't recall him being at LT, but if so, just for a freshman or possibly sophomore years. He went to a prep school, in Rhode Island, I believe. Both he and his older brother died (4 years apart) the summers after each graduated from Yale. Horredous tragedy. Lovely soul.
Robert E. Skarda
I was a classmate of Peter at Pleasantdale Elementary School. Great family and artistic neighbors
located SW of 79th. and Wolf with an annual sled and ski trail out of their wooded lot. Passed away too young.
Ruth A. Lee (Copp)
Bob and Jerry, I remember Peter well and his brother Jim and younger siblings David and (forget his sister's name). We loved sledding at Anderson's hill. He
was a nice guy and good student. I think he went to LT for one year waiting for his brother, Jim, to finish prep school before Peter started. It was my understanding that Jim died when a car he was in was hit by a train when he was on the way home from a ski trip, and that Peter died in a skiing accident as he skiied on a non-public course--both after their junior years at Yale. My memory might be off a bit, but I think that's the case. A sad loss.
Paul Nicol (Nic) Knappen
Ruth, Peter's sister's name was Lucia. I couldn't remember the little brother's name... thanks. Occasionally wonder how they fared. The kids were all 3 or 4 years apart as I recall. I see Gerry says Peter was hiking; I'd heard or read mountain climibing. But he died as the result of a fall somewhere in the Rockies, I beieve. I was really drawn to Peter and considered him a close friend. Though I suppose everyone did. ... he was just the nicest, sweetest soul. AJ and I spoke to him briefly after his brother Jim's funeral service. He thanked us for coming, and though overwhelmed, still in good humor. I thought both Peter and his brother had graduated Yale. If not, then maybe just one of them, but yes, at least through their third year. AJ's father and Mrs. Anderson were friends, both rosarians (grew roses), and told AJ that Mrs. Anderson "went crazy" after Peter's death and never recovered. If true, little wonder. I believe the family moved back east after Peter died.
Laurel B. Hilton (Heywood)
This is Laurel Hilton’s husband Brad responding to the Peter Anderson string: I was introduced to Peter’s dad Jim Sr by Marty Smith (Wendy Smith’s dad) and played tennis with Marty, Jim Neely, Ev Bos and Jim at the Andersons’ private tennis court as well as weekly at the Oakbrook Racquet Club. I was 30 years their junior, but my lack of skill leveled the age advantage. We had an annual ski trip initially to Aspen which had to have been painful to Jim as he lost 2 of his son’s in Aspen related accidents: Jim Jr as noted died in an auto accident returning from an Aspen ski trip and Peter died on Maroon Bells when the shale trail collapsed as he was hiking. In tribute to his sons Jim was very active physically and financially in establishing the 10th Mt Division trail that runs through the Rocky Mountains ending in Aspen. During one of our last ski trips to Alta, UT, youngest son Davis joined the group. Davis had taken over as CEO of Chicago Extruding Co when Jim retired. Jim and Peggy sold their Hinsdale property and moved to New Haven CT to be close to Lucia’s children.
Philip L. Crittenden
Here is Walt Rose’s note on Peter Anderson’s death. Because Peter went to prep school he would have repeated his last hs year, as Walt did, so in the summer of 68 he would have been going into his senior year. A family tragedy.
The Anderson story is very sad. Both boys left LT to attend Berkshire School where I went. In 1962, Jimmy, Peter’s older brother was killed in an auto accident driving back home from a ski trip in Aspen. Then in 1968, Peter, who become my good friend and Yale classmate, was killed in a freak accident hiking in the Mountains near of all places Aspen!
Paul Nicol (Nic) Knappen
Thanks Laurel for the comprehensive update. Was always a mystery to me how the family fared after Peter died. Lost track of them completely after I went to Mexico (for school).
Ruth A. Lee (Copp)
Thanks Brad and Phil for more accurate information than I had. I'm glad to hear that his family soldiered on in the face of such a loss.