09/03/2025
Howard John Anderson, beloved husband, stepfather, grandfather, pioneering prosecutor, and advocate for victims of child abuse, passed away on August 6, 2025, at the age of 83, due to complications from Parkinson’s disease.
Born in Fairfield, West Virginia, to Ruth (Eaton) and James Anderson, Howard’s mother passed away when he was a toddler. Howard was raised in Florham Park, New Jersey, by his aunt and uncle, Frank and Ethel Eaton. He graduated from DePauw University in 1964.
After seven formative years in New York City—a place he dearly loved—Howard worked first as an insurance adjuster and later at CBS. A passionate runner, Howard ran in one of the first NYC Marathons in Central Park. He was also honored for his service to the West Side YMCA in NYC
Later, Howard moved west to Oregon, where he earned his Juris Doctor from Lewis & Clark Law School in 1975. Howard served as an Assistant District Attorney in Douglas County from 1976to 1986, during which time he prosecuted hundreds of criminal cases. His most ground breaking and enduring contributions, however, were in championing the rights of children and women at a time when the justice system often failed to hear their voices. Long before it was common practice, Howard fought to bring legitimacy, credibility, and compassion to victims of domestic violence and child abuse
Awarded a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health, Howard traveled nationwide training lawyers, social workers, and educators on how to advocate for the most vulnerable with humanity and evidence-based integrity. In recognition of his trailblazing work and service. Howard was honored by the Douglas County Mental Health Advisory Committee and the United Parents of Douglas County.
Howard is survived by his wife of 32 years (together for 41), Susan Rutherford; his stepchildren, Eli Levitt (Molly Mathias Levitt) and Cynthia Rutherford; his cherished grandchildren: Isabelle Patry, Anderson Patry (named in his honor), Georgia Patry, James Levitt, Benjamin Levitt; and his nephew Leonard Anderson. He was preceded in death by his identical twin brother, James Anderson, who passed away in May 2025.
The family extends its heartfelt gratitude to Howard’s caregivers whose compassion and professionalism brought great comfort to his final months and years: Anna Christensen, Daisy Swenson, Danette Martin, Cory Flitton, Cory Maynard, and Billie Wingfield.
Howard’s greatest joy was being a grandfather, in which he provided constant kindness, laughter, and wisdom. Howard’s legacy lives on in the lives he touched—both in and beyond the courtroom. He is dearly missed.
A memorial service followed by a reception for Howard will be held at Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church, located at 1300 Pearl Street in Eugene, on Friday, August 29, at 11:00 a.m. Donations in his honor can be made to UCAN of Douglas County:
https://ucancap.networkforgood.com/
