Alex Anderson

Published 9:26 am Monday, April 9, 2018

April 2, 1929 – March 26, 2018

Alex Anderson, age 88, passed away peacefully on March 26, 2018, at his home in Bend, surrounded by family and friends. Alex was born April 2, 1929 in Cleveland, OH, the son of Scottish immigrants, David Anderson and Isabelle Johnstone, who hailed from small towns close to Glasgow, Scotland. Alex was always proud of his Scottish roots and regularly donned a kilt with his family’s tartan.

Alex grew up in Royal Oak, MI and earned his Doctorate of Medicine at the University of Michigan in three years, to begin a long and amazing journey as a physician. A bachelor until age 45, Alex had the chance to travel the world including service as a Captain in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Alex had a story of looking down the line as Army doctors were being selected on an “every other” basis to go either to Korea or Germany. Luckily, when it came his turn, the officer said “Germany!

”After leaving the service, Alex began a long career in medicine that allowed him to travel the world for the World Health Organization. He attended the University of Illinois, receiving a Masters in Medical Education. He eventually settled at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine. During this time, Alex was one of the pioneers of Problem Based Learning, changing the curriculum from lecture style to student/mentor involvement, paving the way for many modern medical practices. He retired from UH as Emeritus Professor of Medicine.

It was in 1967, that he met his (long-awaited) life partner, Sandy Jones. After raising their family on Oahu, HI, they moved to Bend, Oregon where they have called home since 1996.

While living in Hawaii, in the shadow of the rain forest, they were blessed with the arrival of daughter, Amy and son, David. Each summer, to get off “the rock,” they would enjoy the month of July in Bend, exploring the mountains and rivers and came to consider Bend their second home. He lovingly gave the gift of wilderness appreciation to his children, inspiring them to make enjoyment of the outdoors a cornerstone of their lives.

Along with Alex being a pioneer in the medical field, Alex and Sandy became influencer’s in the Bend art community. They established Smith Jones and Company Art Gallery and Studio with Carol Sternkopf and Kay Flynn. Alex and Sandy worked together to produce functional pottery and large sculptural pieces based on their joint experiences and travels throughout the world. Alex served on the Board of Atelier6000 and was instrumental in creating what is now known as ScaleHouse.

Alex lived a full life, enjoying the outdoors, friends, food, travel, and his professions in medicine and art. His best moments were enjoying time with his loving wife and family. Alex will always be a permanent part of the lives he touched.

Alex is survived by wife, Sandy of Bend; daughter, Amy and her husband, Pete of Spokane, WA; and son, David and his wife, Greta, of Salt Lake City, UT; grandsons, Alex, Atticus, Alistair and Ethan. And, not to be forgotten, his loving Akita, Aka.

A celebration of Alex’s life will be held in the future pending family travel schedules. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Alex’s name to ScaleHouse Contemporary Creative Center, a local arts organization which was one of Alex’s dreams for the community of Bend.