Educator.
Born at Winnipeg on 29 October 1932 to Marcelle Louise Roberts (1901-1960) and composer William Henry Anderson, he grew up in the city and graduated from Gordon Bell High School in 1949, showing promise as a football player. He attended the University of North Dakota on a football scholarship, then, after one season there, was recruited by the UCLA Bruins, where he played out his college career and graduated with a teaching degree.
In 1955, he returned to Winnipeg to begin a career in education at Tec Voc High School. While there, he attended a meet-and-greet for exchange teachers from Scotland, and met Ann Cameron Spence (1932-2008), whom he married the same year. They went on to have two children. In 1957, the couple returned to UCLA where he joined the coaching staff and worked on his Master's degree.
He and his family returned to Winnipeg again in 1960. His first job this time was teaching physical education and coaching football and track at Gordon Bell High School. He moved over to nearby United College (University of Winnipeg) in 1966 as its first Athletic Director. In 1972, the family relocated temporarily to Denver, Colorado so he could complete his Doctorate at the University of Northern Colorado.
Back at the University of Winnipeg, he pioneered the programs that became an essential part of the school’s athletic department. Early on, he was running teams in the basement gym in Riddell Hall. As well, he developed the academic courses for the new department; established the Golden Boy Basketball Tournament (later called the Wesmen Classic); helped establish the development of the University's first athletic scholarships; and continued his dedication to the growth of the university through his involvement in the design, funding. and completion of the Duckworth Centre. He was also instrumental in the founding of its Faculty of Kinesiology. In 2005, the Dave Anderson Award was established in his honour, to be given annually to an individual in recognition of outstanding service to the University of Winnipeg athletic program. In 2009, the departmental boardroom at the Duckworth Centre was named the Dave Anderson Boardroom in recognition of his pioneering work in the department.
Besides being a mentor, educator, and coach to youth in the community, he enjoyed playing golf at Elmhurst Golf and Country Club and vacationing in Scotland, at Winter Park in the Colorado mountains, and at Sydney, British Columbia. He loved music and his Siberian huskies, and was a staunch fan of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers football team. He was also a strong supporter of the Legion Athletic Camp at the International Peace Gardens.
He died at Winnipeg on 20 March 2013. Shortly before his passing, the gymnasium at the University of Winnipeg’s Duckworth Centre was named in his honour.
Obituary [Ann Cameron Anderson], Winnipeg Free Press, 4 December 2008.
“UWinnipeg Names Dr. David F. Anderson Gymnasium,” The University of Winnipeg News, 20 February 2013.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 23 March 2013.
“Dedication in Memory of Dr. David Anderson,” The University of Winnipeg News, 10 April 2013.
“David Frederick Anderson,” Smith 11-16-19 Family Tree, Ancestry.
This page was prepared by Lois Braun.
Page revised: 1 October 2026
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