Alice M. Anderson
Alice M. Anderson, 95, physician
Alice M. Anderson, 95, a physician who practiced in East Falls, died Monday of respiratory failure at Brittany Pointe Estates, a Lansdale retirement facility.
Contact staff writer Bonnie L. Cook at 215-854-2913 or bcook@phillynews.com.
Dr. Anderson retired in 2003 after a 56-year career in general practice and as a doctor associated with Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania, where she received her training.
She counted among her patients the late City Councilman Jack Kelly and the late Princess Grace of Monaco, whose family lived around the corner from her home office on West Coulter Street in East Falls, said a cousin, Barbara Cavanaugh.
Born in Philadelphia, Dr. Anderson graduated from Simon Gratz High School in 1935.
She did premedical studies at Temple University, earning a bachelor's degree in 1939. She also prepared at Philadelphia Normal School for a teaching career, and taught for several years.
She earned her medical degree from Woman's Medical College in 1946 and served a rotating internship there. She became licensed to practice in September 1947.
At the college, she served as clinical associate in medicine and as physician in the preventive medicine department.
In a third role as associate director of student health, she was responsible for every student's medical care, Cavanaugh said.
Dr. Anderson also worked as a doctor for the Presbyterian Board of Education in Philadelphia.
She led a busy life - walking, swimming, traveling, sewing, playing piano and organ, and painting.
She moved to Brittany Pointe Estates in June 2003.
She was president of the Alumnae Association of Women's Medical College from 1967 to 1968. In 1939, she won the Cultural Olympics Award in the organists' division.
Dr. Anderson never married. Her great passion was dogs, especially German shepherds and border collies.
"She always said if she had to do it over again, she would have been a veterinarian," Cavanaugh said.
Surviving are her cousins, Cavanaugh and Charles Reinitz.
The funeral will be at 11 a.m. tomorrow at the Huff & Lakjer Funeral Home, 701 Derstine Ave., Lansdale. A viewing will be held at 10 a.m. Interment will be in Chelten Hills Abbey, Philadelphia.
Donations in her name may be made to the Pennsylvania SPCA, 350 E. Erie Ave., Philadelphia 19134.
Contact staff writer Bonnie L. Cook at 215-854-2913 or bcook@phillynews.com.
