Dr. Edward Anderson

Edward E. Anderson, MD of Nashville passed away peacefully at home on March 18, 2022. A third-generation physician, Dr. Anderson was in the practice of cardiology in Nashville for over thirty years prior to his retirement in 1998. A native of Dyersburg, TN, the son and grandson of family practitioners, he attended Vanderbilt University where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1958 and was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. He graduated from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in 1961 and began his specialty training in internal medicine which was interrupted by the Vietnam War.  In 1963 he entered the US Navy School of Aviation Medicine, soloed in Pensacola, FL and spent 3 years as a Navy Flight Surgeon – initially on the carrier USS Saratoga. A decorated veteran, he volunteered for duty and served 1965 – 1966 in the Far East, including 2 tours of duty as senior medical officer of the 1st Marine Air Wing at Chu Lai, South Vietnam. There he was also squadron flight surgeon to Marine Attack Squadron 214, The Black Sheep, made famous during WWII under the command of Col. Greg “Pappy” Boyington and later the subject of a TV series “Black Sheep Squadron”. Dr. Anderson was proud of his military duty, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Commander, and always claimed that his service in the Navy was one of the greatest events of his life. Following completion of his military duty in 1966, he spent 3 years at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, where he completed his specialty training in internal medicine and cardiology, and where he met and married the love of his life. Following his training and marriage he returned to Nashville and entered the practice of invasive and interventional cardiology in 1969 at the old St Thomas Hospital on Hayes Street, where the cardiac program was just starting.  He was also on the staff of every hospital in Nashville including the teaching staff of Vanderbilt University Hospital. He was a member of numerous local, state, and national medical and cardiology organizations.  Dr. Anderson was an avid hunter, fisherman, scuba diver, and railroad buff and rode high-performance motorcycles until his late 60’s. A devout Catholic and former altar boy, he was a communicant of St. Henry Catholic Church, a member of the Cursillo movement, and a member of the death row visitation program. He is preceded in death by his parents Eugene and Mabel Anderson and his brother William Clyde Anderson, MD. He is survived by his wife Kay, his children Laura Webb (Joe), Sheryl Anderson, Christopher (Kyra), Brenda Cannon (Grady), and 10 grandchildren.

Visitation will occur at St. Henry Catholic Church, 6401 Harding Pike on Wednesday March 23 at 10 – 11am, followed by a funeral Mass at 11am.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be me made to Nashville Rescue Mission.