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Hockey Ref

Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2014 7:46 pm
by Happyasaking
Hi Glacier chat folks. I am a neighbor of Hockey Refs (aka, Andy Anderson) and am writing to tell you he passed away this weekend after a long heroic fight with colon cancer. Andy lived across the street from me for 20 years and we were friendly acquaintances for a long time until one day I heard him talk about Glacier NP. I am a passionate hiker and thought, "whoa, this sounds like a chance I can't miss." I got myself invited to a ten day trip to GNP with Andy, who I soon discovered knew literally everything there was to know about the Park. Along with several unforgettable day hikes we did a three day backpacking trip including one day by Lake Ellen Wilson, and held out in the cabin at the pass in a terrible storm where we met some folks who recognized the "Hockey Ref" and thought he was a rock star. As modest as he was I think even he blushed a bit!

We would meet folks on the trail and he would occasionally offer advice, but never more than someone wanted, but usually once someone understood what he knew about GNP, we would stand for ten minutes while he discussed hiking options. A year ago he and I planned another trip to GNP (with an idea it may be his last). We did several day hikes, including the Dawson-Pitamakin 17 miler that I think was his favorite. He met up with some folks one day and did an off-trail hike to "Shangra-La" that I didn't go on, but whoever was there, he beamed for the rest of the trip about that hike.

Andy was one of the most modest, straightforward, unaffected people I'd ever met. He loved three things: his family, GNP and photography (ok and maybe Pink Floyd, something else I learned on one of our GNP trips). He has two kids who he was incredibly proud of but never bragged about. One is an executive at Google, the other an executive for one of most successful NFL teams of the last twenty years. His pictures have to be among the best GNP pix ever. I have pictures of our GNP trips posted all over my office I will treasure for the rest of my life. His family asked that donations in his memory be made to Glacier NP Conservancy. Andy's passion for GNP is a reminder to all of us of the transformative power of nature.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/indyst ... fhid=14455

Re: Hockey Ref

Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2014 8:16 pm
by poky5mom
We were able to hike the Shangri Lai hike with Andy last summer! I'm sure it you was you I walked up to & asked if you were Andy! He was a remarkable person that we were so glad we were finally able to hike with! His love for Glacier & his great descriptions of his hikes will forever be remembered by the chatters on this board. Please accepts our deepest sympathy on the loss of this remarkable person!
Kent & Kim Wood
Iowa

Re: Hockey Ref

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 8:14 am
by Selkie
Nice photos!

If you follow the link at the bottom of the obit, you will be directed to a page where you may leave thoughts for the family and also add photographs. It was *very* nice to see photos of Andy in Glacier.

Re: Hockey Ref

Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2014 3:31 pm
by Jen
Happyasaking wrote: Along with several unforgettable day hikes we did a three day backpacking trip including one day by Lake Ellen Wilson, and held out in the cabin at the pass in a terrible storm where we met some folks who recognized the "Hockey Ref" and thought he was a rock star. As modest as he was I think even he blushed a bit!

I will forever remember my brief 2014 visit to the hiker shelter at Gunsight Pass in miserable weather as my own personal tribute to Ref. 8)

Re: Hockey Ref

Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2014 10:26 am
by MYK
I haven't been to this site for quite a while. I've been back to Glacier but I'm more a photog than a hard core hiker.

I communicated several times with Hockey Ref on this site and found him giving, knowledgeable and helpful.

I'm speechless. I just don't know what to say.

This is a loss to the Glacier community. But mostly it's a loss for his family and those who knew him personally.

May he rest in peace.