Joseph M. Anderson ’65

Joe died Jan. 4, 2025, after dealing with cancer for several years.

He came to Princeton from John Marshall High in Oklahoma City and roomed with a wealth of classmates. Joe rowed lightweight crew, participated in Whig-Clio, and was active in Tower Club. He spent a Fulbright year in Brazil after graduation before earning an M.A. in economics at the University of California, Berkeley, and a Ph.D. from Harvard.

Following two years of military service at the Pentagon and a stint teaching at Williams College, Joe settled in Washington, D.C., as VP of Lewin/ICF. He took a break to travel through the Eastern Bloc countries, including the USSR, and returned to D.C. in 1991 to found his own firm, Capital Research Associates, a consulting practice focused on health care, Social Security, retirement, and savings. The next 30 years involved work with governmental entities and major corporations in those areas, including the World Bank and IMF, and overseas contracts culminating with the design of a retirement system for the new government of South Sudan.

An individual of deep faith, Joe served Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church for 40 years in multiple capacities, sharing a special interest in the church’s Kenyan mission with his wife, Carolyn. He enjoyed skiing and outdoor pursuits and was an ardent environmentalist.

Joe is survived by Carolyn; children Kathryn and Josh (Amy), grandsons Sam and Luke, and brothers Frank, David, and Peter.

The class celebrates the gifts Joe contributed through his intellect and energy.