Celebrating the Life of
Kellie Anderson
May 21, 1966 — October 18, 2024
Obituary
PITTSFORD, NY – Kellie Sue Anderson, 58, left us peacefully, though reluctantly, on October 18, 2024, after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Kellie is predeceased by her mother, Faith Carlson, and mother-in-law, Henrietta "Sue" Anderson. She is survived by her father, Larry Carlson, husband, Glenn, beloved son and daughter-in-law, Zachary and Katarina, sisters-in-law, Elaine Anderson and Christine Szymarek, brother-in-law, Ralph Anderson, his wife Maureen and their children Ciara and Colin, father-in-law, Roy Anderson, and great uncle and aunt Rodney Dye and Sherrilyn J. Van Dyke.
Born on May 21, 1966, to Faith and Larry Carlson of Perrysburg, NY, Kellie's first sentence was "I can do it!" Indeed, that endurance was the overarching theme of her life, as Kellie learned to bale hay and milk cows at neighboring farms; rode horses, motorcycles, bikes, and snowmobiles; managed her high school football team, and earned honors as Salutatorian at Gowanda Central High School.
Kellie took that drive and ambition on to Allegheny College, in Pennsylvania-where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Cum Laude-and to the University of Pittsburgh, where she earned her Master's degree in Public Health, while working full time.
Always up for a challenge, Kellie spent her life conquering one after another. From canoeing the Potomac River and camping overnight under the stars, to hiking the Appalachian Trail in New Hampshire, to whitewater rafting on the Youghiogheny, Gauley, and New Rivers, Kellie did it with flair, if not always grace.
The best adventures of her life were experienced with her husband of 30 years, Glenn, and their beloved son, Zack. When Glenn proposed, it was after a beautiful hike to Lake Solitude, in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Zack, no slouch himself, did the Rachel Carson Challenge with Kellie when she turned 50. A sunrise to sunset hike on nearly the entire rugged trail, the "challenge" is not to win, but to endure and finish the hike in one day. The grueling hike took them up and down 37 miles of Pittsburgh's hilly terrain in the heat and humidity of the longest day of the year. Kellie bested the hills in 20 hours (though she lost a few toenails in the process).
It was Kellie's great pleasure and joy to bake cookies, muffins, brownies, and other treats for her guys (especially chocolate chip cookies for her "Pa," Larry) as well as fantastic meals-she was a gifted and dedicated amateur chef. She was a thoughtful and voracious reader not just of cookbooks (with a collection in the hundreds at one point), but of non-fiction and fiction of all types. She loved attending the theater, especially the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and was as eclectic in her musical taste as in everything else, from Billy Joel, the Eagles, and the Branford Marsalis Quartet, to the Indigo Girls, Rod Stewart, Jason Aldean, and Boz Scaggs.
When Zack spent 6 weeks of his summer working on a fishing boat in Alaska, Kellie and Glenn met him afterward for two weeks of adventure. Kellie joined him for a hike through Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska, where they narrowly avoided a bear. After his marriage to Katarina Bishop, the whole family enjoyed still more adventures while visiting Portugal and then Scotland in 2024.
Kellie was equally driven to excel in her professional life. A dedicated leader and empathetic mentor, Kellie dedicated her 25 year career to institutional advancement, having worked at West Penn Allegheny Health System, the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Rochester. Most recently, Kellie led her advancement team at the University of Rochester Medical Center to exceed their development goals every single year, despite undergoing a radical mastectomy her first year there and fighting metastatic breast cancer the entire time.
Since Kellie inherited her mother's love of animals of all kinds, her home with Glenn and Zack was always graced by cats and dogs. They provided 30 years of treasured companionship, with the latest, Jack the cat and Charlie the super mutt, being of great comfort to her, and to her family as they cared for her in the finale of her life.
Kellie never feared death-the greatest adventure of all-for she felt her beloved mother, Faith, was present and waiting for her. She found the most compelling spiritual peace outdoors in the beauty of nature, with the woods of Western New York and the coast of Maine bringing her particular comfort. She was always ready to share that peace with others. She was the best possible friend, daughter, wife, and mother, ceaselessly caring for others before herself and bringing joy to all who knew her.
Celebrations of her life will be held in Rochester, NY and Pittsburgh, PA in May 2025. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the URMC Wilmot Cancer Institute or the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester.
Memories and Condolences
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Kellie was a one in a million person. A friend, a role model, a leader and ultimately an inspiration. Kellie was a go to person for me when I needed work advice. She always found away to be supportive without ever disparaging anyone or anything. When I would send out materials for review, she was always the first to respond with thoughtful feedback and appreciation. Often she was the only one to respond. Personally she helped me when my daughter went to school in Pittsburgh, with advice about the city and asa mother. I will never ever forget her and her authentic kindness.
Kellie shined bright and I will remember her forever. Her leadership, vision and dedication to the mission has created a lasting legacy. She cared deeply for her colleagues and was a role model in so many ways. I’m fortunate to have worked closely with Kellie as she was an incredible teacher and mentor in my life. She found joy in many things and lived with purpose. Kellie lit up when speaking about her family and friends. Please accept my deepest condolences. Melissa Head
Writing words to capture my deep appreciation and gratitude for my dear friend and colleague is hard. Your authenticity, thoughtfulness, kindness, passion for the mission and values of the medical center, your extraordinary example as a leader, and advocate and champion for diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, justice, and psychological safety in the workplace as co-chair of our EDI committee, these past few years remind me of how blessed I am to know you, work alongside you and call you friend. I will cherish our weekly strategy meetings, conversations, and laughter and remember all the great lessons you taught me by your example. You reminded me to do what brings me joy, focus on what matters most, prioritize well-being and health, and spend quality time with family. Thank you for the long walks, texts, homemade strawberry jam, vacation and sightseeing recommendations, and the beautiful gift of friendship with Kerwin and me. We cherish all the moments with you! To your family: We send our love and prayers for strength, healing, and peace to your amazing and loving family: Glenn, Zack, Katarina, Larry, and your community of friends. To your team: Your beloved North Star is a guiding light and positive force for continuing the great work of the Medical Center. Draw strength from her example, vision, values, and support of the mission. Kellie cared deeply for each of you, the collective and powerful work you do daily, and how you can help to improve life and healthcare for patients, their families, and the community. Let her remarkable life encourage you and strengthen you. As we wipe away the tears and heal from our deep sorrow and profound loss, let's remember her positivity, deep commitment, courage, wisdom, and beautiful and inspiring spirit. We honor Kellie by living with compassion, purpose, values, love, kindness, and joy and by making life better for others.
Kellie was an incredible leader, role model, and friend to me and to so many others. Her infectious laugh and great sense of humor, her humility, her ability to lift people up around her, and her constant focus on others to provide support and encouragement were just a few of her very best traits. To say she will be missed is an understatement, and those of us who knew her are much the better for the influence she had on each of us. Rest in peace, Kellie.
My sincere condolences to Kellie’s family. She always had a smile on her face and brought a level of positivity to everything she did that was unmatched. Kellie was a great leader, a brave woman and had a kind soul. She will be sorely missed by everyone.
Thinking about Kellie, I can feel the calm presence she brought with her into a room or when passing in the hall. She had a way of showing you that she was listening very closely and responding with a full heart. It made every encounter feel like a deep and caring connection. I will miss her. My thoughts are with her family during this difficult time.
Kellie always had a smile on her face. She was an amazing leader and I feel grateful to have worked with her. She will be greatly missed from our organization but will never be forgotten.
There are some people in your professional life who come and go and others who leave indelible marks on who you are and who you will be. Kellie is someone I will never forget. For the way she conducted herself in good times and in challenging times, and for the way she genuinely respected every single individual as a person, she will be a beacon to me. I will fondly remember how proud she was of Zack and how much she enjoyed talking about their adventures together. My sincerest condolences to her family.
Honored and privileged having had a chance to work with Kelly although for not a long time. Always greeting you with a smile on her face. Her leadership and commitment to her team I truly admired. Prayers and condolences to her family!
It was a pleasure to know and to work with Kellie. I so admired her strength, poise and grace. She was one of a kind and will be sorely missed.
Kellie's overall joy and warm smile will be what I miss the most. It did not matter who you were or how she came into your life, she always greeted you with her smile and wanted to know all about you!!!! In enduring so much in her own life's battle, gives pause to what she did for others. We were all so blessed to have Kellie in our lives and that commitment she made to all our patients and each one of us is her legacy and gift to us.
Kellie exemplified grace with her unwavering commitment to what was most important to her. An exceptional leader in the way she presented, interacted, priotized her own self care, and still made me feel so empowered. I am so glad I could work with her and I send my deepest condolences to her family.
I feel honored to have the pleasure to know Kellie and work with her. She was a model leader and I have learned so much from her. She will be greatly missed!
Kellie was a gentle yet powerful force, dedicated to equity and deeply committed to ensuring everyone felt heard. Her thoughtfulness left a lasting impression on me, and I consider it a privilege to have worked alongside her. She leaves behind an inspiring legacy of kindness, integrity, and grace. For me, she was a true model of strength, and I’m heartbroken that she left us too soon. I extend my deepest sympathy to her family and to all whose lives she touched.
Kellie was a consummate professional; strong, committed to doing the right thing, respectful (always respectful), available and team-oriented. She is an exemplar for the work place and personally. Having Kellie as a partner on a work matter increased the chances of a successful outcome; exponentially. Largely because she commanded respect. We in Advancement, and URMC in general, are all the better because Kellie made the move to Rochester. Jack
Every encounter with Kellie--in person, over videoconference, via text message or email, began and ended with an acknowledgement of your humanity: Kellie would ask about your family, your own interests, your weekend plans. She'd share or ask for a book recommendation, tell you about a walking trail to hit up or her latest e-bike adventure. In professional contexts where the layers of authority and action can sometimes get thorny or unwieldy, she was always willing to dig in--no task was beneath her--removing an obstacle, making a connection or championing someone else's efforts. Selfless. Humble. Kind. In recent times, I especially admired the evident closeness of Kellie's family and friend network when she would share a tidbit about her travels and her pride in her son, in particular. From reading other's contributions I'm just learning that this is basically how she made everyone around her feel. I'm really going to miss Kellie.
All of us that worked with her admired her dedication, tireless efforts and commitment to advance the role and mission of organizations.
Even though I didn't work directly with Kellie, every time I saw her, she had a smile that lit up every space she was in. I talked with her on a couple of occasions - so positive and uplifting. ❤️ My prayers and condolences go out to her family and friends. 🙏🏽
My deepest sympathy to Kellie’s family. I am truly blessed to have had the opportunity to know and work with her. Kellie showed me nothing but genuine kindness and respect. Every interaction, no matter how small, was met with gratitude and warmth. She always took the time to say thank you and to wish me well—small gestures that not everyone makes but that Kellie never overlooked. She will be deeply missed, both as a colleague and as a remarkable person. I don’t think she fully realized the positive impact she had on those around her. Kellie was, without a doubt, a true role model.
Kellie Anderson was such a warm and thoughtful person who will be truly missed by everyone in our organization in both advancement and URMC. Her smile had always brightened my days and her beautiful personality had shined through every time we spoke. Glenn and Zach, please know that our thoughts are with you and your family. We are always here for you and send our deepest sympathies. Rusmira Hodzic
My condolences to the family. Kellie was an amazing human filled with compassion and just the right amount of "let's get real" which made her a great colleague and friend. Always willing to step away from what she was doing to be present for you when you needed her counsel. Her smile, laugh and humble strength will be missed.
Kellie was so present in my life, in our daily lives. It's so fitting that her name will grace the room where we gather to connect, to learn, to celebrate our victories...as well as her life. She lives on in each of us. May we honor her in striving to be ever better. It's her legacy to us. Thank you, Kellie.
I feel so honored to have had the opportunity to work with Kellie, even just for a few years. Kellie was always poised, consistent, thoughtful, and supportive, not to mention is an incredible professional role model. I'm sending my deepest condolences to Glenn, Zack, Katarina, and the rest of her family. Thank you for sharing Kellie with the University of Rochester. We were the lucky ones!
Sharing my deepest sympathies with Kellie’s family. I am so sorry for what Kellie endured. I think of her often and miss her very much. She was a good friend and a mentor to me in all aspects of life. I really admired her values and how she lived her life with such great purpose. She was the kindest and most thoughtful person to everyone around her. We shared a lot of books, walks and laughs over these short years we had together. It was a real gift to know her.
I want to offer my condolences to the family. Kellie was a truly remarkable person. Every time I was with her, I learned something. She was and is an exemplar in so many ways. Those of us who knew her have been blessed with a special gift.
Kellie was an extraordinary leader whose compassion and strength inspired us all. I am so glad I had the opportunity to work with her and know her. Kellie's ability to face challenges with grace and kindness has left a lasting impact on everyone around her. I was often inspired as I saw Kellie out on her cherished walks - never stopping. She is a reminder to all of us to appreciate the beauty in life’s simple moments. Though she leaves us too soon, her impact remains with all of us.
I am grateful to have had an opportunity to work with Kellie here in Advancement. I consider her a role model. She was the most thoughtful person I've encountered - responding to situations with empathy, professionalism, and grace - and always, always, taking time to ask about me and others in the room. It is so obvious how those of us who worked with her in Advancement and across the Medical Center respected and admired her, and it was well deserved and authentic. I hope to live a life as fulfilling and meaningful as the one she led. She will be missed.
Kellie was an incredible colleague who was always so positive and generous with her time and her attention. She was a great listener and confidant who easily earned the trust of others. I always admired the way she took the time to respond to every email, which is particularly notable given the demands on her time and her health. Kellie made others feel valued and respected and she inspired me to be a better leader. She truly cared about people: her team, her colleagues, and those she worked with at the Medical Center to advance the mission of the institution. I loved hearing her book recommendations and I will miss seeing her walking with vigor and purpose through our neighborhoods in Pittsford. We were all so fortunate to have Kellie in our lives, she was a bright light.
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