Thomas Valfrid Anderson

Thomas Valfrid Anderson (born February 13, 1960, in Albany, California) was the eldest of three children of Sandra and Joe Anderson. He spent his formative years in both Montreal and San Francisco and resided most recently in West Hollywood until his passing on July 10 due to a respiratory illness.

Val demonstrated remarkable intellect from an early age, commencing his college studies at 15 in Quebec, where he excelled in history and debate. His accelerated academic progression presented some social challenges for him but fostered a strong sense of independence. Val later served as a missionary in Taiwan, acquiring proficiency in Mandarin and Taiwanese dialect and developing a deep appreciation for Chinese culture.

He graduated in the top 10% of his class from Boalt Hall at UC Berkeley, subsequently establishing a distinguished career as an entertainment attorney with clients including Linda Blair and Barbra Streisand. In addition, Val held the position of CEO at two Savings and Loan institutions, overseeing restructuring initiatives during the S&L crisis.

Recognizing his passion for education later in life, Val transitioned to academia and became a respected university professor, known for instructing Asian students on the U.S. legal system. Val provided tutoring to Chinese students both in-person and online; it is believed that during the early stages of the pandemic, he contracted Covid-19 from one of his students. Despite receiving care, he was unable to recover and lost the ability to breathe independently.

Val is survived by his sister Shelley and his brother Stuart. During his final years, he benefited from the companionship of his close friend Ari and his dog Trixie. 

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A funeral service will be held at 1:00pm on Saturday, July 26, in the Heber Valley Funeral Home, 288 N Main,  Heber City, Utah and he will be interred with his parents in the Heber City Cemetery  

Fun Facts: 

• Val demonstrated proficiency in three languages and possessed conversational ability in two additional languages. He would insist in singing happy birthday in Chinese.· 
• He loved to discuss British royalty at the dinner table. He was notably sensitive to criticism of England’s King Richard III; a topic best avoided when eating.· 
• Val read the family encyclopedia multiple times. His missed calling in life was to be a contestant on Jeopardy.· 
• Val was both practical and frugal. When his father offered him any car he wanted as he left for college, he picked a ‘practical’ Chevrolet Cavalier versus his brother who went for a sports car.·
•  After selling his beautiful Hollywood Hills home, Val adopted a minimalist lifestyle with an emphasis on simplicity and well-being.· 
• Val’s only regret was having advanced through academic grades too rapidly during his education. He was always the youngest student and struggled to fit in.· 
• Val was named in honor of his grandfathers, Thomas Anderson and Uno Valfrid Engstrom. Upholding a longstanding paternal tradition, first names have alternated between Thomas and Joseph for generations; this legacy is now continued by his nephew, Joseph.· 
• Val took pride in his direct descent from two Lord Provost Mayors of Glasgow, Scotland, and he often aspired to political office.· 
• Val will be interred in his Anderson kilt, accompanied by his hockey medal, the ashes of his former dogs, and an Expos baseball cap.