The Passing of Bob Anders

I met Bob in 1980 teaching a Level I which he attended. We made a strong connection and I asked him to be the Assistant Administrator of Shambhala Training New York, to which he assented. The next week, though, I took a new position at the Court in Boulder.

Decades later we met in his living room in Cheticamp Cape Breton, both looking into each other's eyes with vivid recognition, astonished to be meeting again after so many years and in so unlikely a location!

Fare thee well, Bob.

First time I saw Bob was at the Chéticamp coop just after he moved here to Cape Breton around 35 years ago, he was shopping with his wife Nerissa. In those days, new comers to the area where rare . We became friends quickly. I remember having long conversation with Bob about those things called 🖥️ and that I wasn't interested in having one. He must have gotten a kick out of me. Are friendship continued over the years, he was always a presence in my life. Bob was like the wind , never knew when it would show up , never knew when it would leave and you could never hold on to it . I miss him profoundly........Love you Bob !

Bob helped me bridge the worlds of Buddhist practitioners everywhere
and the techno-universe of Apple and others on the West Coast of the US.

He acted, in addition to other capacities I may never know but will come to appreciate, as a “death doula” for a mutual Buddhist friend I worked with at NASA in California. Bob delivered a eulogy circulated for our friend to the Buddhist community, who likely transitioned into another bardo in a similar way. As an alien interloper of sorts, I take this to be a 49-day period of prayer and respect.

I wished that I had pressed upon an opportunity to visit Bob and and Nerissa in Nova Scotia, a beautiful land where I’ve travelled before, remembering hearing Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower” as reprised by Jimi Hendrix on the drive North around the countryside.

Here’s to his lifelong true friends, lovers, brethren and sisters, some of whom I’ve only glimpsed in these memorial pages. -- jaw

Bob and I met in high school and remained in touch for most of the 50 years since we graduated, including sharing an apartment in Brooklyn from 1979 through 1981.

We were texting as recently as the week he died ...

Bob was one of the sweetest and possibly the smartest person I've ever known. No one laughed as easily and heartily as him.

Bob had an unquenchable curiosity about the world and an openness to be able to enjoy himself in any surroundings.

Bob studied religion at Swarthmore and became a Buddhist shortly thereafter. I remember sitting on his bedroom floor in Brooklyn while he patiently explained what he loved about his religion. He was so powerfully happy about it that I clearly recall the conversation -- or maybe many conversations --all of these years later.

Bob was a restless soul for a long time after college and that caused friction in our relationship. We reconnected about four years ago and, as I was waiting for him to exit the LGA terminal, he texted me that I might not recognize him because he had gray hair. I texted back, what do you think I have?

It was obvious to me during that last visit that Bob had found peace with his wife Nerissa and their son, Bodhi.

I'm so happy we had so recently been in touch and, despite the overwhelming shock and sadness, I'm relieved he didn't suffer at all. His death was completely out of the blue, according to Nerissa.

There is so much more to say and celebrate about Bob. We should all live as intensely and genuinely as he did.

Bob was such a fixture of Halifax, for me. Older than me - but only slightly - and with that curious mix of rule-breaking, and the kind of big heart that comes with practice, he was a great part of many of my youthful (mis)adventures, parties and expeditions. He will be missed.

One request of the Chronicles - would it be possible to also post when the person passed, if known? Thank you!

I have so few words at this time of mourning. I did not share your beliefs, though now I wish I had known more. You have eternal life and I’m left alone. Each of our original family members have passed on, but me. I will carry on, as I always have, but I will forever miss you, my brother , my Frobaire. Much love.

What I posted on Facebook about Bob: RIP Bob Anders. He passed away during one of the weeks we'd discussed the possibility of his coming to visit me and the rest of his old Bay Area friends from his home in Nova Scotia. We worked together in the original Macintosh group, where he was my right-hand man, an excellent writer who needed little direction in order to turn out stellar work. He became a very dear friend, who, when I left the Mac group, wrote a page-long inscription in an extra hard copy of Inside Macintosh (so that I would be forced to take it with me, as I'd been hesitant to do). In that inscription, he said he'd learned a lot from me, but I had also learned a lot from him, about life. He was an ardent Buddhist and had much wisdom to share (though he was modest and unassuming about that). He also wrote, "Life is precious and very short." His was too short. Upon his passing (and having just gone through a near-death experience myself), I've been giving more thought than ever to the preciousness of life. Please hold your loved ones dear; let them know how much you love them before it's too late. I'm grateful that Bob and I reconnected, after a decades-long hiatus, in time for us to let each other know. His memory will be a blessing for me.

There and not there
Smile and not smile
Always kind
Always gentle
Always dear Bob

Because Bob lived just a block and a half away, I often ran in to him on the sidewalk, and we'd always have such good conversation, whether about dharma, or seeing a pilated woodpecker in Pt Pleasant Park, or the latest film by Dzongsar Khyentse R. He was always friendly. I shall miss those spontaneous chance encounters but am grateful I have a chance to practice for him this Sunday.

For Bob A

We communicated alot.
You were there now your not
Now a fish up in the sky
out of the Ocean of Dharmas you fly
Both Bobs we grew up in New Jersey but no contact in our youth
Moved to New Scotland where we bonded though I remained uncouth

What's left behind, well, since you cared so much
so human and so humane.
It feel like you're still alive even though that's insane.
Curiosity killed the cat, but in your mind seeking truth could never die.
So goodbye great friend, unconventional, courageous warrior guy.

We shared delicious food of dharma in Mexico and Taiwan
Saw bathers in Vancouver's Wreck beach who had absolutely nothing on Vidyadharas sublime ones gave us our connection
Bodhicitta spreads to all who knew you; in every direction

From Bob Z