William George Anderson of Oak Bluffs died November 5, 2024 surrounded by his family. He was 88 years old.
Bill was born on December 4, 1935 in Grand Haven, Michigan to Arthur and Elizabeth (Kamhout) Anderson. He had two older siblings, Margaret (Anderson) Gillard and Arthur Anderson. Bill graduated from Grand Haven High School in 1954, where he played basketball, baseball, track and football. His football team won the state championship and he returned to Grand Haven several times over the years for football reunions.
After high school, Bill joined the Air Force and served in Italy, Turkey and Libya, where he installed and maintained radar stations. Prior to these overseas deployments, he was stationed at Peaked Hill Radar Station in Chilmark on Martha’s Vineyard. Bill had never heard of the island before, and in the 1950s the island was very different than it is today. During the winter he was stationed on the island with several other young men. The highlight of the week was often when they were able to go to the island to attend a high school basketball game. At one of these games, Bill noticed one of the Oak Bluffs High School cheerleaders. The beautiful Maureen Fisher caught his eye, and in the fall of 1956 they were engaged. Bill and Maureen married on December 29, 1956 and were married for 62 years before she passed away in 2019.
In those early years they worked hard, sacrificed and raised four children in Oak Bluffs Harbor. They had many friends and often socialized and socialized with others. Bill was a volunteer firefighter with the Oak Bluffs Fire Department and coached his son’s minor league baseball team. He worked at Shirley’s Hardware, Our Market and the Martha’s Vineyard Shipyard and also had part-time jobs on the weekends. He installed storm windows, repaired appliances, and worked as a janitor, to name a few. He always worked to provide a good life for his family.
In the early 1970s, the North Bluffs neighborhood along Oak Bluffs Harbor changed drastically. Instead of a small beach in front of the family home, the divider was extended and the Island Queen began unloading up to 90 people every 300 minutes during the summer months. Bill and Maureen talked about moving, but Bill decided to try renting bikes instead. The rest, as they say, is history.
Anderson Bike Rentals started with just 30 bikes and charged $3 a day. Over the years, all of his children and most of his grandchildren worked in the family bike rental business. His example of hard work and pursuit of excellence did not go unnoticed by those who worked for him. Many of his young colleagues admired him and were inspired by his example.
One of Bill’s greatest joys was having the whole family together for a meal or just to pass the time. At such moments he would look around with pride and say, “All my children are here.” He loved these moments. He and Maureen also enjoyed hosting dinner parties, socializing with other couples, eating out, kayaking, and traveling the country together. Bill was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend. He was a wonderful example of a family man. As Bill himself would say, he had an interesting life.
Bill is survived by his devoted children, Dr. Kristen L. Anderson and her partner Eric B. Wilds of St. Pete Beach, Florida, William M. Anderson and his wife Doreen Anderson of Oak Bluffs, Katherine Anderson Farrissey of Oak Bluffs and Gretchen Anderson and her partner Benjamin Hall Jr. of West Tisbury; eight grandchildren – Matt Stamas, David Stamas and his wife Erica, Andrew W. Farrissey and his wife Maureen, Colleen Hickey and her husband Patrick, Ian Thompson, William M. Anderson Jr. and his wife Stephanie, and Astoria and Olympia Hall; five great-grandchildren – Jace and Noah Stamas, Liam and Emily Hickey and Anderson Farrissey – and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. He was predeceased by his wife Maureen, his grandson William Anderson Farrissey, and his parents and siblings.
Funeral service will be November 23rd at 11 a.m. at Oak Grove Cemetery in Oak Bluffs. The service will be led by Dr. Rev. Roger Spinney officiated, Martha’s Vineyard Veterans will provide military honors. There will be a reception at the Portuguese-American Club afterwards.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Cape Cod, the Portuguese-American Club or a charity of your choice.
