Tony Anderson understands firsthand what it means to work with the community, especially during difficult times. He has worked with Calvary Cemetery and has a special partnership with Mountain View Funeral Home as well. Together, each establishment has more than 100 years of experience working in the Pierce County area. In 2011, Anderson was invited by Fiore Pignataro to join the board at Calvary Cemetery. Anderson joined out of a distinct desire to do more for his community.

"I enjoy community service because it's a way to give back to the community," he said. "It also shows how grateful we are to those who helped us along the way."    

A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Anderson was born in Tacoma in 1957 and graduated from White River High School in 1975. He is proud to continue to be a part of the Tacoma-Pierce County area with his wife, Linda, whom he married in 1994. Anderson will be the first to tell you that he is also proud of his Italian and Irish ancestry. He is active with the Order of the Sons of Italy in America both on the local and national level. In the past, he worked for the Washington State Department of Agriculture but retired in 1983 due to an industrial injury sustained while on the job.

Anderson and his wife enjoy traveling whenever they can; however, their passion is truly community service. Together, along with friends, they have cooked numerous meals for various charity auctions for the past 13 years. They are proud to have raised well more than $350,000 for charity with these fundraisers. Anderson is so invested in the community in which he lives that he has become involved in several local organizations, including Sister Cities International Exchange with Kitakyushu Japan, the Tacoma Athletic Commission, the Citizens Recognition Committee for the City of Tacoma, and the Board of the Boys and Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound.

His dedication to community service has not gone unnoticed: Anderson has received several distinguished awards such as the City of Tacoma's City of Destiny Award for Adult Leadership and the Kurt Gegner Community Service Award. His dedication to his community and to service is something to be admired by all.

Today, Anderson is the president of the board of Calvary Cemetery. He and his staff strive to provide a place of solace and peace for loved ones who come to reflect and pray. They do this with love, care and dedicated compassion for those who have recently suffered a loss. The Memorial Day holiday is a day where the country pauses to remember those who have given their lives for the freedoms we enjoy.

"Memorial Day is a time to reflect and remember our loved ones," said Anderson. "Most importantly, to remember our fallen veterans."