Richard G. Anderson, a member of SLUG for nearly ten years, past president, and current board member, died September 3, 2004 from a fall while hiking on the Olympic Peninsula.

He was active in his contribution to the organization's web site and was instrumental in removing membership fees, thus opening meetings to all visitors.

He was a welcome participant to our discussions, at group meetings and otherwise. He didn't hesitate to express his views, and argue them strongly. Naturally this lead to clashes among our collection of egotistical nerds, yet he was ever polite, his courtesy serving as admonishment to less well-behaved folks.

Richard worked abroad for a short time in Saudi Arabia as well as in Denver, Houston, Dallas, San Francisco and Seattle, nearly always as a consultant, seldom as a regular employee. He worked in geophysics, computer programming and managing computer systems as well as investment counseling.

Besides his interest in Unix and his recent career moved to investment counseling, he was an avid outdoorsman who has trekked all over the world. He also loved opera, dance, drama, and the symphony and supported them.

Richard was a risk-taker, indulging in hang-gliding, wind-surfing, and lone hiking and skiing trips, although he had led hikes at times with the Sierra Club. We had become accustomed to learning that his absences from meetings were due to visits to exotic locales, and we are somewhat comforted by the knowledge he died while doing what he loved.

He earned an A.B. in Physics at Oberlin College, a Master of Arts at the University of Texas at Austin, and a Ph.D. in Geosciences at the University of Texas at Dallas.

He was born July 15, 1955, in Pittsburgh, PA He is survived by his mother and father, Gloria and John Anderson, of Pittsburgh, PA; brother Charles Anderson, of Pittsburgh; and sister Ann, of Philadelphia, PA.

His family has asked that donations in his memory be made to Washington Trails Association 1305 Fourth Ave Suite 152 Seattle, WA 98101-2401