David Alden Anderson

David “Dave” Alden Anderson, 83, formerly of West Boylston and most recently Auburn, Mass., passed away peacefully Sunday, November 30, 2025.

Dave was born in Worcester on February 19, 1942, the son of the late J. Philippe and Anna (Lof) Peterson. Following graduation from West Boylston High School in 1960, he earned his Bachelor’s degree from Norwich University of Northfield, Vermont, in 1965; later, he earned a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Detroit Mercy in Michigan.

Dave and his family spent much of their time living in New Hampshire and Michigan as he worked for a number of companies, including the Norton Company, Xerox Corporation, Eastman Kodak, and Honeywell. His career culminated as a Senior Account Executive at the Digital Corporation.

Dave was a proud U.S. Army veteran. He served during the Vietnam War and then in the Army Reserves, where he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. In retirement, he volunteered as a Region Adjutant and Treasurer for the Military Order of the World Wars (MOWW). For many years he also served as the Commander of the MOWW Worcester Chapter. Additionally, Dave was a Quartermaster Assistant of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts, frequently traveling to Boston for meetings and to many countries as an ambassador of goodwill. He also supported numerous ROTC and NROTC programs.

Volunteering was an integral part of who Dave was. He learned this first-hand from his mom who translated musical scores into braille for the Library of Congress. Other organizations he supported were the Aleppo Shriners (with his mini parade car), VASA Order of America, Norwich University where he was an active alumnus, and many other organizations.

A well-known extrovert with many friends, he could and would talk with anyone – whether they wanted to or not – and was never shy to introduce himself and start a conversation. Being a well-read person, Dave could discuss virtually any issue with knowledge and authority. Also known as “Whitey” because of his platinum blond hair, Dave was well known for his antics, with his yearbook calling him a gregarious joker and “detention room patron” who nevertheless still came across as “strictly Ivy League.” His yearbook went on to claim, “On the sixth day, ‘Whitey’ was created, and on the seventh, the Lord had to rest.”

He loved self-directed investing, giving welcome – though sometimes unsolicited – advice to any who would listen, good food with family, playing golf, watching football, charitable giving, and vacationing at his “hooch” on Squam Lake. He never met a dog he didn’t like. He adored travel and was a self-professed “driving fool” who enjoyed getting in his car and going any distance. He saw the entire United States (a lifelong goal of his) and visited numerous countries. He continued to travel and take cruises into his eighties.

Dave is survived by his two sons, Brent and his wife, Kimberly, of Moultonborough, NH; Erik and his wife, Charlotte Nuanes, of Silver Lake, NH (deployed to Warsaw, Poland). He was predeceased by his daughter Kristen. He was so incredibly proud of his seven grandchildren: Matthew, Charles, Katherine, Brendan, Declan, Willa, and Tyler; and four great grandchildren.

He will be greatly missed by his family and lifelong friends, Wolfgang Bauer and Dave Lacilla.

A celebration of life for Dave will be privately held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations in Dave’s honor to the Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, Mass., the oldest school for the blind in the United States (perkins.org).