Obituaries

Jay Anderson, 85

November 05, 2024

Jay Anderson of Lancaster PA passed away peacefully in his sleep on November 5th, 2024. He is survived by his loving wife Patricia, his son Chris (Julie), his daughter Brenda (Dwight), his son Brian (Elizabeth), his son Andrew (Kara), 9 grandchildren, and one great grandchild.

Jay was an honors student in high school and graduated a year early. He attended Swarthmore College where he also graduated with honors. He received a scholarship to Harvard University for graduate school and wrote his PhD on nuclear magnetic resonance at 23 years of age.

Jay began his life-long academic career at 23 as an assistant professor of physical chemistry at Bryn Mawr College, where he went on to achieve tenure as a professor in Chemistry. There he wrote two textbooks, and dozens of published papers. His “Introduction to Quantum Chemistry” is still in print today. Later at Bryn Mawr, he went on to become the founder of the Computer Science department and achieved tenure once again. His sabbatical trips while at Bryn Mawr included a year at MIT in Boston, researching and writing on a large project that culminated in a book, “The Limits to Growth”. He also worked for a year at Hewlett Packard in Cupertino California, programming in the computer graphics department

He went on to teach at Franklin & Marshall College, in computer science, and once again achieved tenure. He was awarded two year-long Fullbright Distinguished Scholar Lectureships, and a 2 month Senior Specialist Lectureship to Innsbruck Austria, one of the first of its kind. His sabbaticals included trips with his wife Patricia to teach and work in Prague, and later Vienna. Before retiring, he was awarded the Barshinger endowed chair of Computer Science.

Jay was an avid bicyclist. In 1976 he led a group of 12 on an 80-day trip across the country. He had many adventures by bicycle throughout the years, some solo, later with his children, later still with his grandchildren. He enjoyed discovering and showing his family parts of America and Europe, they might not have seen otherwise, from the vantage of two wheels on the road.

In addition to teaching, he was a prolific app developer and programmer for the iPhone and iPad. One of his first was “iTalk” for the Moog center for Deaf children. He made many other apps long into his retirement.

Jay enjoyed opera, symphony, and all sorts of theater. He had an active church presence and participation on the clergy. He spent his retirement with his family and continued to travel and have great adventures.

He will be missed in the community, and by his former students and faculty, as well as his large circle of friends and family.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra in Jay’s name: https://www.lancastersymphony.org/donate

A memorial service will be held at St Thomas Episcopal Church 301 St Thomas Rd, Lancaster, PA 17601 on January 11, 2025 at 1030am.

Leave a condolence on this Memorial Page

Condolences to the Family

January 15, 2025

Rest easy Jay. You and your wonderful wife, Pat, have set an excellent example for being caring family elders!
Kevin Kornfield

January 13, 2025

Dear Pat, Brendan just sent me Jay’s obituary. I am so sorry to have missed his memorial service. From my first days at OperaDelaware when I saw a picture of the 2 of you, smiling and so happy, I knew our lives were meant to intertwine. Those lovely smiles always were warm and friendly every time we met. Some people make indelible marks on ones very soul as you both made on mine.
My deepest sympathy to you and all your family. Jay will never be forgotten as long as all of us who loved him remain.
Mary Wilcosky

January 13, 2025

Oh, Pat – I am so sorry to hear this news. Prayers to you and the family. We will miss him terribly.
Brendan Cooke

January 02, 2025

Deepest sympathies go out to Pat and her family from her many friends at Conestoga Valley School District. Gerry Huesken, Retired CVSD Superintendent

November 25, 2024

I was honored to be able to get to know Jay while teaching at F&M. As a retired faculty member, he audited several of my classes and even contributed guest lectures on topics close to his heart, such as the sources for Wagner’s “Tristan” libretto. I learned so much from him, and his curiosity, openness, and passion for learning were inspiring. I was very sorry to learn of his passing, and I send condolences to Pat and the rest of his family. Jay was an extraordinary person, and he will be missed.

November 20, 2024

Jay was a wonderful colleague and a wonderful human being . . . smart, kind and generous. Although we taught together at F&M, I didn’t really get to know him until I received the commission for the Stations of the Cross at St. Thomas. He was on the review committee and I always appreciated his thoughtful feedback throughout the process. In 2014 he designed an app to facilitate meditation and prayer for members of the community as they walked the Stations. Brilliant! Thank you, Jay, for EVERYTHING.

November 19, 2024

Jay was a wonderful professor and mentor for us. He was active in our Christian fellowship group at F&M and he befriended many of us. He spent much time sharing his interests with us as well, and before graduation he took me to the opera to see La Boheme as a gift. I will never forget that gesture… it is a favorite memory of mine as a student.

November 19, 2024

I just wanted to pass on my condolences, I took classes from Dr. Anderson in Fall of 1989 and Spring 1990. He was my favorite professor, if he had come earlier to F&M, I would probably have become a developer and majored in Computer Science. I did end up in technology after first being an attorney, and I credit Dr. Anderson for that. He was a wonderful man and teacher.

November 19, 2024

I am sorry to hear of Jay’s passing. He was a wonderful colleague at F&M. He also was generous with his time, experience, and resources – lending my husband and I bike boxes and advice for our first bike trip to Europe. Many more trips followed. He was my hero, undertaking bicycle crossings of the Alps with his grandchildren to share with them his love of cycling and adventure. He was one of a kind and I will miss him.

Services: Saturday, January 11, 2025; 10:30 AM; St. Thomas Episcopal Church; 301 St. Thomas Rd; Lancaster, PA 17601
Map and Directions: Get Maps and Directions >