Feb. 5, 1945
Boston
Suffolk County
Massachusetts, USA
Death:
Mar. 26, 1996
Redmond
King County
Washington, USA
Wednesday, April 3, 1996
Judith Anderson, Puppeteer -- Seattle Woman, 51, Was A Hit With Kids
By Carole Beers
Seattle Times Staff Reporter
Puppets weren't merely for amusement in Judith Ellen Anderson's hands. They were keys to a child's heart, mind and hidden creativity.
Mrs. Anderson - a book representative who also built Anderson Puppet Theatre into a popular draw at Northwest schools and libraries - herself had been a creative child.
She got started staging elaborate funerals for neighborhood pets in a decorated room in her family's basement.
With her sister, she also presented shows with store bought hand puppets based on TV characters such as Zorro and Howdy Doody.
"In junior high school, they graduated to shows-for-pay at parties, using handmade puppets and scripts Judy wrote herself," said her mother, June Constant of Camano Island. "Their grandfather built a portable stage complete with curtains, which they hauled around in an old station wagon."
Mrs. Anderson died of cancer March 26 [1996]. She was 51.
Born in Boston and reared near San Francisco, Mrs. Anderson graduated with a drama degree from the University of Washington in 1969. She subsequently did workshops for the Seattle School District's Arts in Education programs, and even toured Alaska villages to teach children to stage shows of their own.
"Her joy was working with the shy ones, getting something inside to come out," said her husband of 28 years, Tom Anderson of Redmond.
"She loved children," said her mother. "All her nieces and nephews adored her. She could communicate on their level."
That skill helped Mrs. Anderson in her regular job, helping schools and libraries select children's books to buy from Econoclad Books. She also involved her children and husband in shows. One of her favorite presentations was "The Phantom of the Opera."
A keen physicality defined Mrs. Anderson. When her illness incapacitated her for skiing and tennis, she took up horseback riding.
Her Christian faith sustained her, according to her husband.
"She gave a lot to the community. "The thing she would always want others to do is give back. If you can give in the name of the Lord, that's even better."
Marilla J. Watts (Whitney)
Judith Ellen Geandrot Anderson
Boston
Suffolk County
Massachusetts, USA
Redmond
King County
Washington, USA
Wednesday, April 3, 1996
Judith Anderson, Puppeteer -- Seattle Woman, 51, Was A Hit With Kids
By Carole Beers
Seattle Times Staff Reporter
Puppets weren't merely for amusement in Judith Ellen Anderson's hands. They were keys to a child's heart, mind and hidden creativity.
Mrs. Anderson - a book representative who also built Anderson Puppet Theatre into a popular draw at Northwest schools and libraries - herself had been a creative child.
She got started staging elaborate funerals for neighborhood pets in a decorated room in her family's basement.
With her sister, she also presented shows with store bought hand puppets based on TV characters such as Zorro and Howdy Doody.
"In junior high school, they graduated to shows-for-pay at parties, using handmade puppets and scripts Judy wrote herself," said her mother, June Constant of Camano Island. "Their grandfather built a portable stage complete with curtains, which they hauled around in an old station wagon."
Mrs. Anderson died of cancer March 26 [1996]. She was 51.
Born in Boston and reared near San Francisco, Mrs. Anderson graduated with a drama degree from the University of Washington in 1969. She subsequently did workshops for the Seattle School District's Arts in Education programs, and even toured Alaska villages to teach children to stage shows of their own.
"Her joy was working with the shy ones, getting something inside to come out," said her husband of 28 years, Tom Anderson of Redmond.
"She loved children," said her mother. "All her nieces and nephews adored her. She could communicate on their level."
That skill helped Mrs. Anderson in her regular job, helping schools and libraries select children's books to buy from Econoclad Books. She also involved her children and husband in shows. One of her favorite presentations was "The Phantom of the Opera."
A keen physicality defined Mrs. Anderson. When her illness incapacitated her for skiing and tennis, she took up horseback riding.
Her Christian faith sustained her, according to her husband.
"She gave a lot to the community. "The thing she would always want others to do is give back. If you can give in the name of the Lord, that's even better."