Susan Anderes
Jan. 18, 1954-June 6, 2024
Menlo Park, California

Susan Margaret Anderes, a woman who balanced a career, family, and a variety of interests with grace and a touch of humor, passed away at age 70 after a six-year battle with cancer. Born in San Francisco in 1954 to Patricia and Harold “Andy” Anderes, Susan’s life was a blend of dedication, adventure, and occasional misadventure. She was the eldest of five children. Her father was a professional forester, and the family lived for a time in the isolated mountain inholding of Wilsonia, CA. Susan grew up for the most part in Reedley, CA, surrounded by nature and rural life.

The Anderes family culture emphasized alpine ski racing, and Susan was no exception. In addition she was a high school track and field athlete, specializing as a sprinter and hurdler. Her passion for cycling led her to complete twice in the Davis Double Century bike tour, demonstrating her endurance and love for physical challenges.

Susan pursued higher education at UC Davis where she earned a BA in International Relations. Her academic career included a year abroad at Georg August Universität in Göttingen, West Germany, which broadened her international perspective. As a native Californian, she recalled making her own tortillas which were not available there. She continued her education at UC Berkeley, obtaining a Masters in Library and Information Studies (MLIS).

Susan's professional journey was marked by a 25-year career at Stanford University, where she made significant contributions as a librarian and web developer. Her work on nutrition and end-of-life courses for medical school students demonstrated her commitment to education and wellbeing. Susan's expertise was also reflected in her co-authorship of two books: Gut Insight and Overbooked. These works showcased her ability to synthesize complex information and present it in engaging, accessible ways.

Among Susan's interests, she enjoyed photography and watercolor painting, and her love for the outdoors included Nordic as well as alpine skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, angling, and birdwatching. She was an accomplished home cook and favored 350°F “that special temperature where the Maillard Reaction, a chemical process, results in wonderful complex flavors caramelization, and browning”. While cooking she would admire her impressive collection of refrigerator magnets acquired during travel, “the kitsch in the kitchen”.

Susan is survived by her husband of 40 years, John Stern, and their two sons, Andrew and David Stern. Susan was a devoted mother, actively supporting her boys in their musical and sports endeavors, always their biggest cheerleader. She is also survived by sisters Jeanne Olson and Mary Wong, and brothers Paul and Frank Anderes.

Here is the memorial site for Susan: https://www.forevermissed.com/susan-anderes

A donation to your local library is welcomed since Susan was a librarian, or to Bay Area Cancer Connections: https://www.bayareacancer.org