ELLSWORTH – Peter Maurice Andersen died July 17, 2009, at Maine Coast Memorial Hospital, Ellsworth, less than a month after his 75th birthday. He had lost a short, but fierce battle with lung cancer. Peter was born June 21, 1934, in Omaha, Neb., the oldest child of Dr. Maine and Marjory Pancoast Andersen. After his graduation from Central High, Omaha, Neb., Peter graduated from the University of Nebraska with a baccalaureate degree in philosophy and history, and a doctoral degree in law. He was admitted to the Nebraska, Federal and New York Bar associations. Peter’s professional career as a corporate trial lawyer included work for the Federal Communications Commission, Northern Natural Gas, Communications Satellite Co., Western Union, Metro Media and World Com ITT. As chief of the Federal Communication Commission’s AT&T task force, Peter’s leadership led to the break-up of the Bell Telephone monopoly. Peter was an activist and considered his life a gift each day. Among his many passions were politics, travel, art, operas, symphonies and children’s performances, attending family parties, all children – especially grandchildren, nature, hiking and climbing, working in the jail system and with anyone wanting to recover from alcoholism, lunch with special friends, breakfast with his men’s group, all kinds of food, any good argument, bridge and a game of cribbage after supper. He sang in Gilbert and Sullivan performances throughout his life, local barbershop, in his church choir and randomly for any reason. He was a member of Unitarian Universalist Church, Ellsworth; Hancock County Democratic Committee and AA. He is survived by two sons, Erik and his wife, Eva and their children, Liv and Bjorn, of Groton-on-the-Hudson, N.Y., and Karl and his wife, Kimberly and their children, Rhys and Ethan, of East Brunswick, N.J. Peter is also survived by his second wife, Evelyn Whitney Foster of Ellsworth and her family, Dottie and Nick Vachon and their children, Gabe, Rosie and Belle, of Ellsworth, Bob and Renee Foster and children, Jake, Katie, Isaac and Ben, of Hampden and Dan and Robin Foster and children, Emma and Sherry, of Orrington. He was predeceased by his brother, John; and his son, Matthew. A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Aug. 1 at Unitarian Universalist Church, Ellsworth. In lieu of flowers, donations could be considered to Hancock County Homecare and Hospice, P.O. Box 156, Blue Hill, ME 04614, to the memorial garden project, UU Church, 121 Bucksport Road, Ellsworth, ME 04605 or to Your Place, North Street, Ellsworth, ME 04605. Online condolences may be placed at www.directcremationofmaine.com.
PETER MAURICE ANDERSEN
