Former Assistant Dean of the Graduate School and English Professor at Michigan State University Howard “Hobart” Peter Anderson passed away on June 16, 2019. He was 86.

A love of literature, instilled from early childhood by his mother, led Anderson to earn his Ph.D. from the English Department at the University of Minnesota. He then joined the English Department faculty at Indiana University and at Michigan State University where he also served as Assistant Dean of the Graduate School. He earned the enduring respect and affection of fellow faculty, junior faculty whom he mentored, and students. His own wide-ranging scholarly interests and sense of humor are reflected in his many publications, especially his scholarly editions of Lewis’ gothic romance, “The Monk,” and Sterne’s “Tristram Shandy.”

After earning his B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota, Anderson attended the U.S. Army Intelligence School, graduated as an Honor Student, and was posted with the Counter Intelligence Corps in Heidelberg, Germany. The only “war secret” he revealed was how he and his fellow officers enjoyed his records of new Broadway musicals and Gilbert and Sullivan operettas between intense sessions of war games planning. Off-duty, he pursued his childhood love of skiing and embraced the joys of art and opera.

The son of Arthur and Regina Anderson and brother of Louis (all deceased), he is survived by his beloved children with his first wife Judith (deceased): Sam, Jessica, and Laura (Paul Martino); grandchildren Gordon and Lucienne (Martino); sister Lorraine Hawkos; sister-in-law Karen Rasner; and many cousins, nieces, and a nephew. 

His memorial service and inurnment will be held at All Saints Church, 800 Abbot Road, East Lansing, July 19, 2019, at 2 p.m. A reception will follow at the University Club. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Hospice of Lansing-Stoneleigh, 3186 Pine Tree Road, Lansing, MI 48911. Expressions of sympathy may be made at www.greastlansing.com.