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Merlyn Leslie Anderberg ’55

A picture of Merlyn Anderberg

Merlyn Leslie Anderberg ’55, December 4, 2013, in Spokane, Washington, from complications of heart disease. Merlyn earned a BA in biology from Reed, where he was a resident adviser in Foster-Scholz, and played intramural football and basketball. He gained skills in problem solving and acquired an interest in a great variety of subjects during his studies at Reed, which helped him excel as a teacher, he later reported. Following graduation from Reed, Merlyn attended the University of Washington Medical School, leaving the program after three years to go into education. He earned a BEd and an MEd from Whitworth College, and taught biology in public schools in Spokane for several years. He then earned an MS in biology at the University of Oregon. In 1966, he married nurse and educator Gretchen Reim and joined the faculty in life sciences at Spokane Community College. A year later, he moved to the newly opened campus of Spokane Falls Community College. During his career as a college instructor, he taught zoology, human anatomy, and physiology, and served as department chair. Merlyn and Gretchen had two sons and two daughters and enjoyed gardening in their orchard property on the Little Spokane River and spending family vacations at their home on Spirit Lake, Idaho. Merlyn was drawn to a multitude of multimedia projects in retirement. He supported Reed as a volunteer for admission, and attended both his 40th and 50th class reunions. “Reed has continued to excel and to make alumni proud,” he remarked. In addition to his wife and children, Merlyn is survived by seven grandchildren.

Appeared in Reed magazine: June 2014

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