Hilda Anderson

Hilda Roberty Anderson, most recently of Howard County, Maryland, died on October 4, 2011 after a three-year battle with cancer. Known to many as “Coach”, Mrs. Anderson was the first woman hired at Catonsville Community College in the physical education department in 1966. Within the first year at CCC, she organized and coached the college’s first women’s field hockey, basketball, lacrosse and softball teams. Because women had no organization to play under, Anderson conceived of and organized the Maryland State Junior College Athletic Association and served as its president for 10 years. Soon after she took her basketball team to the National Junior College Athletic Association national tournament; the only Maryland team to go to the nationals, and where her team placed sixth. She was awarded Professor Emeritus status in 2007. Born in Mannington, West Virginia December 31 1927, Anderson earned a Bachelor’s Degree at Fairmont State University in West Virginia, and a Master’s Degree in Education at Morgantown University. She then went on to teach at Lander College and Connie Maxwell School in Greenwood, SC. In 1955, after moving to Maryland, Anderson taught physical education at Catonsville Junior High. She then was hired as a physical education teacher to open Johnnycake Junior High and five years later, Pikesville High School where she began her coaching career. It was while she was teaching at Pikesville HS, she was awarded Teacher of the Year by the Baltimore County American Association of Health and Physical Education Teachers. Mrs. Anderson, a very active member of St. Alphonsus Rodriguez Church in Woodstock, MD, chaired the Counting Committee and helped with various church fund raisers. She also served as Director of Field Games for the area Senior Olympics. Coach Anderson is survived by her husband of 63 years, Richard Anderson, Sr.; a son, Richard Anderson, Jr.; a daughter-in-law, Kathryn Ariano of Columbia; two brothers Dr. Al Roberty of Belair, Maryland, and Hugo Roberty of Tampa, Florida; grandchildren Michael and Jennie Anderson, Melissa Anderson, and Robyn Anderson, great grand- daughters, Kylie and Ariana, and nieces Paula and Cecelia. A Mass commemorating her life will be held at 11:00 AM on October 22nd at St. Alphonsus Rodriguez Church10800 Old Court Rd Woodstock, Maryland 21163. The family will receive guests afterward in the church hall. Inurnment will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Claudia Mayer Cancer Resource Center (10710 Charter Drive, Columbia, Maryland 21044), or to St. Alphonsus Rodriguez Church (10800 Old Court Road, Woodstock, MD 21163).
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