OBITUARY

Stellar citizen, academic, husband and father, Roy O. Andersen of Newport

Beach died Dec. 21 at his home after a lengthy illness. He was 89.

Born in Selma, Calif. on Feb. 2, 1910, he was a hard-working farm boy in

the San Joaquin Valley. Mr. Andersen learned a strong work ethic early

on, being the youngest of five and growing up on a farm.

Though he had tremendous respect for his farming parents, his career

tendencies leaned toward education.

Mr. Andersen studied at UC Berkeley to earn a bachelor’s degree and a

teaching credential. It was at Berkeley where he met his wife, Marge

Jeckel. The two married in 1936 after both had finished school. They had

three children.

After college, Mr. Andersen spent a year teaching social studies in

Selma. He later applied for and accepted a job as a social studies

teacher in Southern California at Newport Harbor High School. He taught

until 1943 when he was called to active duty in the Navy during World War

II.

Following the war, Mr. Andersen took a position as an administrator at a

high school in Riverside. But his passion for Newport Beach led him to

accept a position in 1949 as principal of the new Ensign Intermediate

School. Later, he became superintendent of the Newport Beach School

District before it became Newport-Mesa Unified School District.

Mr. Andersen retired from his career as an educator in 1972. But

retirement didn’t mean slowing down. He and his wife traveled for many

years, spent time with friends at the Oasis Senior Center and played

bridge on a weekly basis. Mr. Andersen was also an avid gardener.

But the Andersens’ favorite getaway was to their cabin in Montana.

“He loved fishing,” Marge said. “He also spent a lot of time working on

the cabins and improving them.”

But one of the most touching days in his life was when Newport Beach’s

Andersen Elementary School was named after him in the early 1970s.

“That is the nicest honor a school man can have,” Marge said. “He loved

the schools and he loved the school work. He told me many times what a

nice thing that was. He couldn’t have been happier.

“It was a pleasant life in a wonderful area,” Marge said.

A private family service was held in December. Mr. Andersen is survived

his wife of 63 years, Marge; two sons, James Andersen of Redondo Beach

and David Andersen of San Jose; five grandchildren and one

great-grandchild.