James Michael Andersen

James Michael Andersen was born on December 30, 1959, an early surprise to Peggy and Harold Andersen. He completed their family, joining his sister Pam and his brother Chuck, his first best friend.

His early years he would recount as idyllic, growing with the town of Ukiah, and almost always included sports. From a Little League team making a run toward the World Series, to Pop Warner football, so many of his fondest memories were of sports. That love of athletics carried through to joyfully coaching any of his children’s teams that would have him, team triathlons, racquetball nights, bike rides, swimming laps - there wasn’t a sport to be played that he couldn’t find a passion for.

Jim graduated from Ukiah High School in 1978, completed one year at Humboldt State, and then headed south for sunny San Diego. After transferring to San Diego State University, he met the love of his life working together. He and Robbin both graduated from SDSU and were married on June 25th, 1983. Shortly after, they welcomed their first child and relocated back to northern California. Eventually making their way back to Ukiah, they added two more children to their family - brothers - just like Jim’s own family.

Jim served his hometown proudly for years. Working for the County of Mendocino beginning in 1987, he served as Assistant CAO and, eventually, CAO. He shifted his talents to Sonoma County to serve as Assistant CAO in 2004 before retiring 2008. However, idleness was never Jim’s way, returning to run the Mendocino County Retirement system 2008 and performing freelance consulting. Even after fully retiring, he couldn’t resist volunteering in Robbin’s classroom to help tutor or chaperone a field trip or two. When Robbin joined him in retirement, he put his talents toward planning adventures, travelling and exploring new and old favorite places around the country together.

He was deeply proud of his public service to the home that he loved, largely because Jim was a people person. A catch-up in Safeway, a men’s group at church, a walk through the neighborhood, reunions with past coworkers, classmates, teammates, coaching, teaching Sunday school, volunteering at his children’s schools - any excuse to connect to others delighted him. If you had the pleasure of knowing Jim, you already know that this only scratches the surface - he was brilliant, kind, curious, funny, warm, generous, a story-teller and a listener, gentle, and in all he did, reflecting his steadfast faith.

Jim is survived by his wife, Robbin (Erwin) Andersen, his children, Melissa (Zachary Bergman), Christopher (Angelique Ritter), and Nathaniel Andersen (Rhianna Eby), his sister, Pam (Andersen) Thompson, nieces, nephews, and extended family that he adored. He was preceded by his father, Harold Andersen, mother Margaret “Peggy” (Hagen) Andersen, brother Charles “Chuck” Andersen, and many other beloved extended family members his strong faith gave him comfort of reuniting with.