Susan Scanlan Anderson

July 7, 1948 ~ January 23, 2025
Resided in:
Falmouth, Maine
Susan Anderson July 7, 1948 – January 23, 2025
Falmouth - Susan Scanlan Anderson, 76, passed away on January 23, 2025.
She was born in Portland, Maine, the daughter of John and Patricia Fox Scanlan. She graduated from Cathedral High School. During her sophomore year in college, she was awarded a United States Congressional Internship and worked in Washington, DC, in the Office of Representative Peter N. Kyros of Maine. Upon completion of the internship, Susan remained in Washington, DC and joined the presidential campaign staff of Maine Senator Edmund Muskie. Following Senator Muskie's withdrawal from the presidential race, she worked in his United States Senate office.
Returning to Maine and seeking a new direction, Susan earned a Master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling and began a long and rewarding career in the rehabilitation and employment of Maine residents with visual impairment and blindness. Susan was the first person in Maine to earn a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) status with a specialty in visual impairment.
Susan met her husband, Bill Anderson through a mutual client, and they shared both a happy home and professional office until his death in 2007. Bill and Susan lived quietly, surrounded by family and friends. They enjoyed winter trips to the Caribbean, golf trips to Florida and they were known for their knowledge of birds and good books.
She was predeceased by her husband, Bill Anderson; her sister, Rosemary Scanlan Smaha; and her parents, John and Patricia Scanlan. She is survived by her sisters, Jean Scanlan and her partner Sonja Hicks of MA, Mary Feigenbaum (Glen) of Falmouth and her daughter Julie O’Coin (Brian) and son John Feigenbaum (Jenna) of North Yarmouth; brother-in-law, Ken Smaha (Roberta White), and his children, Karen Lindquist (Brian) of MA, and Michael Smaha (Carly) of Washington, DC. Susan was close to her great nieces, Kathryn Lindquist, Sarah Lindquist, Anna O'Coin and Elize Smaha and her great nephews Bennett Smaha, and Connor O'Coin.
Susan enjoyed a special relationship with Bill's daughter, Martha, known as Marti, and Marti's husband Michael of NH, and with Bill's son, Peter Anderson of CT. She is also survived by Rebecca Anderson and her husband Antonio Calzone of NH, Bray Anderson of North Berwick and their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
At Susan's request, services are private. You are invited to make a donation in her memory to the HART Cat Shelter, 302 Range Road, Cumberland, Maine 04021 or to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Donation Processing, PO Box 5014, Hagerstown, Md 21741.
Shared many wonderful work years with Susan and Bill. During one of the Winter Olympics we three were thinking of entering as an ice-skating trio!
Sending sincere sympathy to all of Susan’s family. I am so sorry for your loss.
I met Susan in the summer of 2006 when she and Bill and I moved into Rockwood. We quickly became friends who loved to share stories, laughs and occasional tears over a glass of wine. And how will I (and other neighbors) ever forget Covid Cocktails in Le Garage. She was a dear friend and will be missed.
Susan was my “next door” neighbor when I moved to Rockwood. We became fast friends and she called me her third sister. She convinced me to rescue 2 cats so I would have something else living with me. We watched movies on snowy nights and made lists on her famous big note pads and we talked about what color petunias she would plant each spring. She was my friend, confident and “sister”.
I remember Susan from our early days at the Iris Network (then the Maine Institution for the Blind.) Susan was the first to introduce the concept of “rehabilitation” at that time. She took a great interest in people who were blind or visually impaired and worked hard to develop options for education and employment for her clients. After she retired, Susan came back to the Iris where she spearheaded our technology program. She became an integral part of the tech team promoting this new service in the community. I also have very fond memories of her late husband Bill. They were a great team and very devoted to one and other. My deepest sympathies to Susan’s family and friends.
Sincerely,
Laura Vittorioso
I had the pleasure of meeting Susan and Bill during our brief time living in Maine. They were my Mom’s neighbor and they took her under their wings. Even after moving back to Florida we remained friends with Susan. She was kind, caring, generous and one of the nicest people I have ever met. RIP Susan, I hope you, Bill and Mom are enjoying a glass of wine together!
Sending sincerest of thoughts and deepest condolences to the family.