August 6, 1927 – June 23, 2014
Paul was born in Ludlow, Massachusetts and died in Cochrane, Alberta. During the last years of his rich life, Paul suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease. His death was sudden and unexpected. He drew his last breath with Donna, his wife of nearly 46 years, and his sweetheart forever, by his side in the Bethany Cochrane, where he spent the last year of his life.
Paul was broadly educated, with a wide variety of intellectual and physical interests. His passion for life knew no boundaries. His travels and research took him around the world and he never lost his appetite for knowledge or dessert –which, on rare occasions, he would enjoy before his main course.
Paul’s love of wildlife and his respect for the environment began in his childhood but his formal education was at Cornell, Tulane, and Berkeley (where he received his Doctorate in Zoology). While at Berkeley, Paul was drafted into the US army, spending 18 months in Germany as a medical lab technician. His free time gave him an opportunity for a physical and cultural immersion in the country.
Following a teaching position at Berkeley and a two-year post-doctoral fellowship at Columbia, Paul accepted a position on the faculty of the University of Calgary in 1961. Paul loved teaching and would go to bat to support his students or a cause. If you needed help or an opinion, Paul was an independent and innovative thinker and would happily get involved whether it was in school, research or real life. He retired as a Full Professor in 1984. The early retirement allowed Paul to pursue extensive research on dugongs in Australia and to continue his lifelong love of anything that would keep him afloat on salt or fresh water.
On land, his many dogs were his companions, cherished for their loyalty and dog wisdom. Paul delighted in the plants in his alpine rock garden, a small but special corner of the 60 acres of foothills he called home for forty years. He took great pride in the accomplishments of his children, from their active lifestyles to their professional careers.
In addition to his beloved wife Donna, Paul leaves behind daughter Kristin Belair, son Erik (Crystal) Anderson and grand-daughter Adrienne Belair, all of California. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Trish (Michael) Rahm, their son John Rahm (Sara Bowling) and grandson Micah Rahm (Oregon); his brother in law, David Lynch (Olds, AB), his first wife Florence Anderson and former son-in-law Michael Belair, both of California.
Come and share your stories and memories of Paul – and a bit of dessert – in celebration of his life on Wednesday 23, July 2014 at 1:30 p.m. at the
Cochrane RancheHouse, 101 RancheHouse Road, Cochrane, Alberta. Recalling that Paul last wore a tie nearly fifty years ago, we invite you to dress informally.
No flowers please. If friends so wish, donations can be made to the Cochrane and Area Humane Society (cochranehumane.ca, 403-932-0272) or the
Alberta Wilderness Association (albertawilderness.ca, 403-283-2025). To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Paul Knight Anderson, please visit our flower store.
Paul was born in Ludlow, Massachusetts and died in Cochrane, Alberta. During the last years of his rich life, Paul suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease. His death was sudden and unexpected. He drew his last breath with Donna, his wife of nearly 46 years, and his sweetheart forever, by his side in the Bethany Cochrane, where he spent the last year of his life.
Paul was broadly educated, with a wide variety of intellectual and physical interests. His passion for life knew no boundaries. His travels and research took him around the world and he never lost his appetite for knowledge or dessert –which, on rare occasions, he would enjoy before his main course.
Paul’s love of wildlife and his respect for the environment began in his childhood but his formal education was at Cornell, Tulane, and Berkeley (where he received his Doctorate in Zoology). While at Berkeley, Paul was drafted into the US army, spending 18 months in Germany as a medical lab technician. His free time gave him an opportunity for a physical and cultural immersion in the country.
Following a teaching position at Berkeley and a two-year post-doctoral fellowship at Columbia, Paul accepted a position on the faculty of the University of Calgary in 1961. Paul loved teaching and would go to bat to support his students or a cause. If you needed help or an opinion, Paul was an independent and innovative thinker and would happily get involved whether it was in school, research or real life. He retired as a Full Professor in 1984. The early retirement allowed Paul to pursue extensive research on dugongs in Australia and to continue his lifelong love of anything that would keep him afloat on salt or fresh water.
On land, his many dogs were his companions, cherished for their loyalty and dog wisdom. Paul delighted in the plants in his alpine rock garden, a small but special corner of the 60 acres of foothills he called home for forty years. He took great pride in the accomplishments of his children, from their active lifestyles to their professional careers.
In addition to his beloved wife Donna, Paul leaves behind daughter Kristin Belair, son Erik (Crystal) Anderson and grand-daughter Adrienne Belair, all of California. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Trish (Michael) Rahm, their son John Rahm (Sara Bowling) and grandson Micah Rahm (Oregon); his brother in law, David Lynch (Olds, AB), his first wife Florence Anderson and former son-in-law Michael Belair, both of California.
Come and share your stories and memories of Paul – and a bit of dessert – in celebration of his life on Wednesday 23, July 2014 at 1:30 p.m. at the
Cochrane RancheHouse, 101 RancheHouse Road, Cochrane, Alberta. Recalling that Paul last wore a tie nearly fifty years ago, we invite you to dress informally.
No flowers please. If friends so wish, donations can be made to the Cochrane and Area Humane Society (cochranehumane.ca, 403-932-0272) or the
Alberta Wilderness Association (albertawilderness.ca, 403-283-2025). To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Paul Knight Anderson, please visit our flower store.
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