A Tribute to Einer
By Mike Gerhard, Nancy Koch, John Seamans, Bill Kohman, and Randy Nelson
Einer Anderson, MHS phy ed. instructor and driver education coordinator, has for years been an important part of Minnetonka students’ high school experience. Tuesday, May 12, Einer died after a long and courageous battle with cancer. We extend our sympathy to his family and the many people Einer touched with his extraordinary warmth and friendliness. Following are some Mini-Schoolers thoughts about Einer.
EINER, FRIEND TO ALL
Mike Gerhard
Few people pass away with the friends Einer Anderson had. The news of his death was hard to swallow for many, for he was admired by many.
In my first year at Minnetonka, I felt out of place and insecure as many sophomores probably are during their first weeks. But when I walked into the gym, I knew I could relax and have a good time. The reason was I was always greeted by a smile and a pleasant hello. If something was bugging me, Einer was there to ask me what was wrong and assist.
You can’t measure the amount of kindness and happiness he brought to this school. And if you could, there would be enough to share with every school in existence.
Einer Anderson will be missed by the students greatly, but maybe most severely by his colleagues who have shared a large part of their career with him.
MEMORIES OF EINER
by: Nancy Koch
Einer was my 10th grade gym teacher. He really was a nice person and a terrific teacher. During third quarter, I found out that Einer was sick. It made me sad. But he came to school all the time and he looked healthy. It was hard to believe that he only had a couple years left to live. He seemed happy all the time, and never appeared to be in a bad mood. A lot of people would be very onery or upset because of what was happening. But Einer never seemed to take any frustration out on anybody. I think I might have seen him yell at somebody once. And that wasn’t even in the class.
It always seems that people you really think a lot of pass away. When people like that are gone it really makes death seem
unfair.
EINER ANDERSON
by: John Seamans
Einer Anderson was one of the neatest people I have ever met. I never knew such a mellow, understanding, and likeable guy. I had him for a teacher for two years and it was always one of my favorite classes. I don’t think there is anybody who didn’t like Einer, and if there was, that person had a big problem because he never hurt anybody.
My dad went to Minnetonka High and had Einer for a teacher. He said even back then, the kids looked up to Einer and liked him as much as we do.
I think that there is only one in a million guys like Einer. There’s just too many great things to say about Einer Anderson, I could write all day. I think Einer will always be remembered at Minnetonka High School and the whole Minnetonka community. He had to be one of the greatest guys ever to be alive.
EINER ANDERSON
by: Bill Kohman
I was only in mainstream for one quarter my sophomore year at Minnetonka, and I got to know Einer Anderson pretty well.
He was the kind of man that if you did something well, he would let you know, and sometimes that is nice to hear from people. He would get to know all his students’ names by heart, because I heard him say once that if you want to have a good class that you have to get to know all of your students. He was never judgmental of other people, he treated everyone the same, never doing more for one than the other. He was a good person and will be missed greatly by many.
Einer and Roy
by: Randy Nelson
During the fourth quarter this year, Mini-School lost two close friends; Einer Anderson to cancer and Roy Hawkins to the Breaux Bridge, Louisiana schools. It may seem odd to refer to these two fine individuals in the same article, but anyone who knows both men can see the similarities are great. They both always look to the positive side of life and people, they both have a strong faith in their God, they both love kids, and both are true to themselves.
It is difficult to speak of Einer in the past tense because he is so much a part of Minnetonka/Excelsior. No one captured his spirit more than Lu Morseth in his presentation at Einer’s Memorial Service. The staff and students in Mini-School will miss this man who supported us emotionally through the years as well as took his time to procure equipment, make adjustments, and make things a little bit better for all of us. He was well-liked by all Mini-School students who knew him.
Roy departed at the end of third quarter when Lesley Hughes-Seamans returned. He was an outstanding ambassador for this program in his quiet and gentle approach. We never doubted Roy’s ability to find employment elsewhere and we are happy he has done so quickly. The Mini-School students and staff miss Roy and wish him the best of fortunes back home in Louisiana.
We have all been fortunate to have had Einer and Roy cross our paths–we are richer because of them.