JAMES LOWELL ANDERSON April 23, 2016
James (Jim) Lowell Anderson, 77, of Boulder, CO passed away on Saturday, April 23, 2016.
Jim was born in Santa Rita, NM and grew up in the Grant County area of New Mexico and was a long-time resident of Los Alamos, NM. Jim attended New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, NM, and earned a B.S.degree in Chemistry in 1961 and a M.S. degree in Chemistry 1963. In 1966 he earned a PhD in Nuclear Chemistry from Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL. In 1958, Jim married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Gililland and they were the parents of three children, Doug born in 1959, Cathy born in 1961, and Greg in born 1963.
After Jim received his Doctorate degree the family moved to Los Alamos, NM where Jim worked in the Material Sciences Division of the Los Alamos National Laboratory for 38 years. Jim was successful in building and managing the Tritium Systems Test Assembly and was nationally and internationally recognized as an expert in Tritium Science and Engineering. Jim was instrumental in introducing Tritium into the Tokamak Fusion Reactor at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory in 1994. After retiring from Los Alamos in 2001, Jim worked for the Department of Energy as the project manager for the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
Jim spent most of his adult life as an avid skier and runner. Jim loved skiing at both Pajarito Mountain in Los Alamos and at Breckenridge Ski Resort when he and Barbara were living there between 2003 and 2013. He was seen running all over Los Alamos County and competed in many 10 K runs and several marathons. He was a passionate FSU football fan and he and Barbara made many trips every year to watch the Seminoles play. Jim enjoyed traveling and he and Barbara traveled in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Jim was preceded in death by his son Doug Anderson and parents James Anderson and Frances Anderson Scofield. He is survived by his beloved wife, Barbara Anderson of Boulder, CO, daughter Cathy Eady and husband Mike of Austin, TX, son Greg Anderson and wife Diana of Erie, CO, daughter-in-law Amy Anderson, of Longmont, CO, and his grandchildren: Kristen Anderson and partner, Chris DeLuca of CO, James Eady of NY, Danielle Eady of TX, Brock and Shanlie Anderson of CO; and Rylee Anderson of CO. Jim is also survived by his sister Flois Melton of NM and brother Ralph
Anderson of TX.
A celebration of life will be held Monday, May 9th at 2:00 pm at Niwot United Methodist Church, 7405 Lookout Road, Longmont, CO 80503 with a reception immediately following. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to Niwot United Methodist Church or a charity of your choice.
