Obituary of Jay Carl Anderson

Jay Carl Anderson, 89, passed away peacefully at home on August 6, 2014. Born in Brooklyn, New York on December 6, 1924 and "raised in New Guinea" as Jay liked to say in reference to his service in World War II, he was the son of Swedish immigrants who came through Ellis Island and settled in Brooklyn. He spoke proudly about his life as a member of the Greatest Generation and was self-made in the successes he had in his life. Jay joined the U.S Army at age 18 serving as a Draftsman. His specialty was general engineering, providing advanced planning and preparation for impending amphibious battles such as setting up communications in the battle areas. His service during the Pacific Campaign placed him in the Southern Philippine Campaign, The Battle of Wakde, as part of the larger New Guinea Campaign, Bismarck Archipelago Campaign, and the Luzon Campaign. Jay earned the following awards while in service to his country: American Service Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal; Philippine Liberation Ribbon; Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with bronze service star device; and in lieu of additional award, the bronze arrowhead device affixed to his Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal for his participation in the amphibious assault landings in the Pacific Theater. Upon Allied victory, he was awarded The World War II Victory Medal. After the war, Jay arrived in Utica, New York with only his US Army sea bag. His Utica College education was paid for by the GI Bill, and he was a member of the college's first graduating class in 1949. After graduating, he attended the Pratt Institute of Art, in Brooklyn, New York for one year and studied advertising design. Upon completing his education, Jay was hired as an artist for the advertising firm Farquhar and Company Inc. in Utica, New York. It wasn't long before Jay purchased a controlling interest in the firm, and became the owner and president. He changed the name of the agency to Anderson, Davis & Seeds, and ran it successfully for over 40 years. Anderson Davis & Seeds was the agency of record most notably for Mohawk Airlines, Empire Airlines, the Savings Bank of Utica and the Rome Savings Bank. Jay was an innovator in marketing and conceived of what became known as the first ever two-tiered fare system for airline ticket sales. He worked with government regulators to allow his airline clients to sell tickets at different prices depending on time of travel. Jay was a lifelong member of the Mohawk Valley Ad Club and was named Ad Man of the Year in 1983. In the 1970's, he moved his business from Utica to Clinton into the Old Grange Hall building where he oversaw the renovations. With offices upstairs, and auditorium space downstairs, Jay transformed the old hall into the Clinton Cannonball Cinema. In addition to the advertising agency, and the Clinton Cannonball, he went on to open two more movie theaters in Little Falls, New York. Jay also believed in giving back to his community, and along with his wife Sally, was instrumental in the expansion of the Kirkland Town Library where he was a vital member of the Capital Campaign Committee in the early 1990s. He established the Viola Engman Fund which is the largest donor fund of the Library in memory of his beloved Aunt Viola and is dedicated to children's programming. Jay began jogging before jogging became popular, and he could be seen jogging for decades around the village streets in all weather. He realized his personal goal of crossing the finish line of the 9.3 mile Utica Boilermaker road race in 1988 when he was 64 years old. Many happy family memories with his children and extended family were made at the family "camp" in the Adirondacks on Third Lake in Old Forge. In his later years, Jay had many peaceful times there, and he and his partner of 36 years, Sally, were married on the dock overlooking the water on May 5, 2005. While Jay and Sally loved spending time together in their home and at camp, they also enjoyed traveling, particularly to Aruba. In addition to his wife Sally Rose (Maslanka) Anderson, Jay leaves his brother and his wife: Gordon and June Anderson of Whitesboro, New York; his children's mother: Marion C. Anderson of St. Petersburg, Florida; his three children and their spouses: Mark and Katie Anderson of Westborough, Mass., David and Denise Anderson of Clinton, New York, and Bill and the Honorable Mayor Carolyn (Anderson) Kirk, of Gloucester, Mass.; his step-children: Eric Gralenski of Southampton, Mass., and Serena Swidzinski and her partner Vince Crawford of Hicksville Long Island, New York; his six grandchildren: Alexandra Anderson of Boston, Mass., Alicia Anderson of Boston, Mass., James Anderson of Westborough, Mass., Sean Anderson of Westborough, Mass., Samuel Kirk of Gloucester, Mass., and Baylee Kirk of Gloucester, Mass.; along with many nieces and nephews. Jay was predeceased by his son Jay Carl Anderson Jr., his brother Barry Engman Anderson, his two beloved Aunts, Viola and Alice Engman, and his lifelong friends Bill Brodock, Duncan McCully and Arthur Cullen from Brooklyn, New York. ARRANGEMENTS: Calling hours will be from 11am until 1pm, Tuesday, August 12 at Owens-Pavlot & Rogers Funeral Service located at 35 College Street, Clinton, New York. A memorial service will be held immediately following at 1pm at the funeral home for those who wish to attend. Burial will be at Sunset Hill Cemetery in Clinton, New York. The family welcomes donations in his memory to the Kirkland Town Library, 55 ½ College Street, Clinton, New York 13323 or Hospice and Palliative Care, 4277 Middle Settlement Road, New Hartford, New York 13413.