‘She’s a legend’
Colleagues remember Chris Anderson
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HOUGHTON -- An incredibly impactful figure in the Michigan Tech and broader Houghton community, Christine "Chris" Anderson died Tuesday at age 77.
A native of the Iron County community of Stambaugh, she attended Stambaugh High School. After graduating from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science degree, she attended Michigan Technological University and received her Master of Science in Biological Sciences. She worked at Tech for the next 30 years.
At MTU, Anderson was a champion of outreach, recruitment and student retention. Her long-time colleague Betty Chavis said Anderson was responsible for bringing her (Chavis) to Michigan Tech and was a pillar of minority student relations at the university. "She was not afraid of anything," she said. "She never backed down."
Chavis remarked on Anderson's demeanor saying she handled everything with grace and gratitude. "She was involved with most of the departments at Michigan Tech," she said. "She was a rock of information, resources and contacts -- adding to the color like a kaleidoscope for Michigan Tech."
Anderson served as Director of the Summer Youth Programs, Founder and Director for the Educational Opportunity Department, Founder of the Presidential Council of Alumnae and as a Special Assistant to the President for Institutional Diversity.
Chavis said the impact Anderson left on campus will be sorely missed. "She was a remarkable woman and I loved her dearly," she said. "She was like my sister. We worked together for almost 30 years."
Assistant Dean for the Pavlisv Honors College Darnishia Morris said while Anderson had no cultural context, working with ethnic minority students, she took the time to understand what they were going through. "She's a legend," Morris said. "She did things for the legacy and the historical context of Michigan Tech that will always be a part of its history."
Morris said one of the most important parts about Anderson was her compassion for her colleagues. "She saw a potential in me at times where I didn't see it for myself," she said. "That's what caused us to have a 35 plus year relationship where she was always important to me because she always made sure that I was important to her."
Survivors include her husband Carl, brother Mark Sartorelli, children Jesse DePue and Liv Tretter, along with her grandchildren and many cousins, nieces, nephew and their families.
Anderson’s funeral will be held at noon today (Aug. 21) at St. Ignatius Loyola Church in Houghton. Visitation will take place from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.