College of Arts and Sciences Newsroom

By Dave Larsen

The Rev. William P. Anderson, Presbyterian minister and professor emeritus in the University of Dayton Department of Religious Studies, died May 7. He was 85.

Anderson taught religious studies and ethics on campus from 1968 to 1998. He was a founder and professor in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Core program, where he taught alongside his humanities and social sciences colleagues. After his retirement, he stayed on for several years as the Core Program’s director. He most recently worked for 16 years as pastor of Community Presbyterian Church USA in Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin.

As a protestant minister working at a Catholic university, Anderson would often say how closely the concepts of God, community and service taught by the Marianist brothers aligned with his own theology.

Sandra Yocum, University professor of faith and culture, said what she remembers most is Anderson’s smile — “sometimes as a sign of kindness and concern, and sometimes out of amusement that we all tend to take ourselves a little too seriously in our work as theologians.”

Anderson’s broad knowledge of Christian history was evident in his publication, A Journey Through Christian Theology. His sense of humor was evident in another book, The Cartoon Gospel of John: A Serious Commentary with Visual Parables, with illustrations by Richard L. Diessen. In 2015, he published And the Final Answer Is …, described as a “modest book of brief essays, poetry and homilies.”

Yocum said the intention of the latter book — to encourage, inspire and challenge the reader to explore their understanding of religious faith and, in particular, the Christian faith — also described his intention as a UD professor.

“He sought to encourage and inspire his students to embrace their lives as they were in the light of religious faith, particularly Christianity, with all the challenges that entailed,” she said.

Sr. Angela Ann Zukowski, MHSH, said her Zehler Hall office was a few doors down from Anderson’s when she first came to the University in 1979.

“I remember that Dr. Anderson always had his door open to receive colleagues and students with a warm smile,” said Zukowski, director of the University’s Institute for Pastoral Initiatives. “He constantly was interested in what we were engaged in, both encouraging us and giving clues for how to advance an idea or project. During our weekly faculty meetings, he never ceased to animate the conversation with alternative perspectives or directions. He challenged us all along the way. Our meetings were never dull when Dr. Anderson was present.”

Zukowski said Anderson introduced students to the meaning and value of interfaith dialogue. “He was a persistent teacher, never ceasing to invite students to a higher level of critical thinking and conversation,” she said.

Born Feb. 22, 1936, in Ridgefield, New Jersey, Anderson grew up in Queens, New York, where he played streetball with the likes of future New York Yankees great Whitey Ford. The son of a Catholic father and a Presbyterian mother, Anderson received degrees from Bloomfield College and Princeton Theological Seminary, where he earned a doctorate in theology. He was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1964.

Anderson is survived by his wife of 64 years, Carolyn, longtime administrative assistant in the School of Business Administration, and family members including daughter Janice ’92 and sons Bill Jr. ’89 and Kevin ’93. His daughter-in-law, Michelle Tedford ’94, is editor of University of Dayton magazine.

A private service was held May 13. A public memorial will be planned for a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Community Presbyterian Church of Lac du Flambeau, 643 Old Abe Road, Lac du Flambeau, WI 54538.