Alan Don Anderson

Alan Don Anderson died November 28, 2022, at the age of 77 in Houston, Texas, with his wife and children by his side. Alan, the oldest of four, was born to Don and Elizabeth Anderson in Sioux City, Iowa, and grew up in Grand Prairie, Texas. His childhood included making mischief on early morning paper routes, working at the family’s City Bakery, racing at the soap box derby in a car full of rain, and teaching his high school physics class. A National Merit Scholar, Alan studied Mathematics and History at Rice University before completing his PhD in Economic History at Johns Hopkins. He continued his academic career at Princeton, University of Virginia, and Carnegie Mellon, teaching economics and business development behind a bushy beard, wearing a wool jacket with suede elbows. Alan took his experience tinkering with cars to work on NASA’s lunar module docking station simulator, a true rocket scientist. He had a talent for explaining complex ideas and embraced technology, giving his kids early access with old computer punch cards for art projects. In 1979 Alan left academia to pursue a career in oil and gas in Houston. After a brief time with United Gas Pipeline he founded Energy Planning Inc., a consulting firm that employed up to twenty five people, including his entire family. Providing his opinion as an expert witness in nearly 100 court cases was his favorite part of the job. He relished catching holes in opponents’ arguments and chuckled when opposing council busted him for writing geometric proofs instead of taking notes. At age fifty, Alan joined Houston Fit and completed his first marathon. He caught the running bug and supported new marathoners as Team Blue’s coach. They may not have been fast, but Coach Alan was exceedingly proud of his runners and many considered him a father figure. He did too many races to count from California to Athens and everywhere in between and leaves an impressive collection of Turkey Trot t-shirts. Alan wrote poetry, short stories, a blog, two books: The Origin and Resolution of an Urban Crisis and My Running Club, and leaves two books in progress. An entertaining and prolific storyteller, his fifth version was almost always better than the first. Alan also expressed his creativity through photography, silk screening over thirty years of Christmas cards, and making digital art like Microsoft Mary. He loved listening to music but ask him to sing or play his banjo at your own risk. An involved father of three, Alan played many roles: club house constructor, math tutor, big-decision advisor, Christmas light detangler, sailboat captain, athletic supporter, and taxi driver-mover. He was intensely proud of his children and his grandchildren were a true joy. Enthusiastic about his Russian heritage, Alan heartfully felt for the people of Ukraine. His knowledge of the world, especially history, was topped only by Google. Long before we could ask Alexa, we asked Papa. Alan is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Betsy Sears Anderson, his mother, Elizabeth, siblings Greg, Pam, and Tony, children Rebecca (Peter) Cook, Jeremiah (Parul) Anderson, and Daisy (Bradley) Miller, and grandchildren Tessa and Cargan Cook, Menka and Kannan Anderson, and Jack and Samantha Miller. He was preceded in death by his first grandson Ferguson Cook. A service will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Monday, December 5, 2022, at West End Church, 802 Shepherd Drive, Houston, Texas. Donations can be made to Alan’s favorite charity, the Houston Food Bank.

Alan Don Anderson

May 10, 1945 - November 28, 2022