- Date Of Birth: June 29, 1937
- Date Of Death: July 23, 2020
- State: Connecticut
It is with profound sadness and heartache, that we mourn the passing of Donald “Don” L. Anderson Sr., of Cromwell, CT, age 83, who passed away on Thursday, July 23, 2020, at his home surrounded by his loved ones. Following a long battle with dementia, Don was finally reunited with his beloved wife Josie, the love of his life.
Born on June 29, 1937 in Middletown, CT, he was the son of the late Albert “Gillie” E. Anderson, Sr. and Madeline (Brown) Anderson. Don graduated from Middletown High School Class of 1955. Don and Josie were high school sweethearts, who were married for almost 55 years.
During the summers of Don’s high school years, he followed in his father’s footsteps by working at A.N. Pierson Inc.
Don attended Fairfield University, achieving an Associate’s Degree in Mathematics before being commissioned as an Officer of the U.S. Air Force as a fighter pilot.
While working at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), as the Chief of Data Processing, he attended University of Hartford, earning an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration. He worked for the DMV for 17 years, while earning his B.A. from Holy Apostles College, in Cromwell, CT. He was instrumental in the development and the implementing of the Connecticut On-Line Law Enforcement Communications Teleprocessing (COLLECT)/ National Crime Information Center (NCIC)/National Law Enforcement Telecommunications Systems (NLETS) database working jointly with the FBI Department of Justice, State Police, and DMV to incorporate a national system, which is still used today.
He then went on to work as the Director of Criminal Justice for the State of CT.
Don was an avid basketball fan, who loved to watch and attend UConn Women’s and CT Sun’s basketball games.
Don is survived by his daughters Kristie-Rae Damiane of Cromwell, Karen Pettiford (Michael) of Maryville, TN, Kathleen “Katie” Moran (John) of Cromwell, Karleen Anderson of New York; and his son Donald (Donny) L. Anderson Jr. (Mercedes) of Costa Rica; eight grandchildren Steven Burnham, Rachel Buonanducci (Glenn), Jamie Burnham (Jeff), Justine Burdick (Jeremie), Alan Anderson, Kayla Zadjura (Zach), Kerri Duque (Juan), and Ashley Pettiford; a great-granddaughter Natalia Sales and eight great-grandsons Luke Stennett, Cadence Sales, Miles and Evan Burdick, Dominic Anderson, Colton Burnham, Carson Zadjura, and soon to arrive Mateo Duque.
He leaves behind his sister Madeline (Anderson) McDermott; his sister-in-laws Haruko (Nigima) Anderson, and Shirley (McDermott) Johnson along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was predeceased by his wife Josephine (LoGuidice) Anderson, his parents, and his brothers Albert Jr., Roland, Gilbert, and his adopted brother, Kenneth Johnson.
