Ernie Anderson, long-time staff photographer for the San Diego State athletic department and a member of the Aztec Athletics Hall of Fame, passed away Easter Sunday, April 12, at the age of 73 after a battle with brain cancer.
Born in Burbank, California, Anderson began his life-long association with San Diego State athletics in 1967 as a photographer for The Daily Aztec. Since that time, Anderson's photos have been featured in countless national sports publications, including several issues of Sports Illustrated.
Throughout his career, Anderson documented numerous bowl games, NCAA men's and women's basketball tournament games for SDSU, as well as many other sports and campus events. In addition, he became a gifted wedding photographer, shooting up to three nuptials in a weekend.
A former distance track runner at Monroe High School in the North Hills region of Los Angeles, Anderson served in the military with the United States Marine Corps before earning two degrees in public administration at San Diego State, graduating with distinction on both occasions.
A heavily decorated San Diego city employee of more than 33 years, Anderson met his wife Cathy at SDSU, where she received a degree in theater. They were married in 1970.
In addition to his photography, Anderson collected and restored antiques for his home and was a talented landscaper, installing a swimming pool and several waterfalls in his backyard. He was also deeply involved with his two children, both of whom graduated from San Diego State.
In January 2018, Anderson was diagnosed with glioblastoma, the same cancer that claimed the lives of U.S. Senator John McCain and Rush drummer Neil Peart. Along with traditional treatment following surgery, he also participated in trial studies and mentored several other patients with the same diagnosis.
Anderson, who was inducted into the Aztec Athletics Hall of Fame in October 2018 for lifetime achievement, continued his photography shooting for SDSU until November 2019.
In addition to his wife of 50 years, Anderson is survived by his son Travis and daughter-in-law Cindy; daughter Tiffany, grandchildren, Austin, Hunter, Ryder and Brittany, and great-grandson Tristin.
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In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in memory of Ernie Anderson to support Fund F-1134 Brain Cancer Research being done by Dr. David Piccioni, Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health. Please make checks payable to the UCSD Foundation, noting the gift is "in memory of Ernie Anderson." Please send your gifts to UC San Diego Gift Processing, 9500 Gilman Drive, #0940, La Jolla, CA 92093-0940. (Donations are tax-deductible and processed through UC San Diego Foundation, Tax ID# 95-2872494 to benefit the Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health.)