Fr. Dan Anderson, OFM

Father Daniel “Dan” Anderson, OFM. Fr. Daniel (Dan) Anderson, OFM, died Monday, Sept. 25 at St. Francis Seraph Friary in Cincinnati. Fr. Dan was 76 years old. Born on June 14, 1947, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and baptized James, he was one of three children of Robert and Annetta (O’Shea) Anderson. He became acquainted with the Franciscans when he enrolled at Roger Bacon High School in St. Bernard. Following his graduation in 1965, he went as a lay seminary to Duns Scotus College in Southfield, Michigan. He entered the Franciscan novitiate at Holy Family Friary in Oldenburg, Ind., in 1967, receiving the religious name “Daniel,” which he continued to use throughout his life. After professing first vows, Fr. Dan returned to Duns Scotus, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy in 1970. Upon graduation, he moved to St. Leonard College in Centerville, Ohio, where he professed solemn vows on Sept. 9, 1971. Fr. Dan was assigned to Pleasant Street Friary in 1973, while he taught at St. Francis Seraph School, and later at Roger Bacon. Fr. Dan was ordained to the priesthood on March 26, 1976, at St. Francis Seraph Church. The majority of Fr. Dan’s friar life was spent in Cincinnati. Hewas a man with many talents, especially in theatre. He took courses at the University of Notre Dame and completed a master’s degree in theatre at St. Louis University. At Roger Bacon, he served as a speech, English and theatre teacher and developed the school’s theatre program, enabling students to share their gifts and talents and touch the hearts of delighted audiences. He directed many plays at Roger Bacon, along with creating set designs while chaplain at Saint Ursula Academy. His love for theatre also led Father Dan to serve as artistic director for the Fountain Square Fools and to active involvement in Cincinnati Music Theatre. Fr. Dan directed such productions as “The King and I,” “My Fair Lady,” “Sound of Music,” and “Oliver.” His on-stage roles included Barnum in “Barnum,” King Arthur in “Camelot,” and John Adams in “1776.”  In addition, Father Dan spent two years as the audiotape editor at St. Anthony Messenger magazine, ministered as associate pastor at St. George Parish and Newman Center, served as the provincial archivist and librarian and was the longtime chaplain for the Ursulines of Cincinnati. Fr. Dan most recently served as Secretary for St. John the Baptist Province, interim Secretary for the soon-to-be unified Province of our Lady of Guadalupe and was set to minister as Secretary for the new coast-to-coast province, headquartered in Atlanta. Fr. Dan was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Jack, and nephew, Colby Steele. He is survived by his sister, Judy Steele-Mitchell (husband, Larry Mitchell), and his sister-in-law, Cindy Anderson (husband, Ed Brinson), his nephew, Rob Steele (wife, Kendyll, and their daughters, Colby and Kailynn), and nephew, Kory Anderson. Fr. Dan is also survived by his classmates in profession, Fr. Jim Bok, OFM, Fr. Matthias Crehan, OFM, Fr. Larry Dunham, OFM, Fr. Pat McCloskey, OFM, and Fr. Ricardo Russo, OFM. His good friend in the Order is Br. George Ward, OFM. Friars, family and friends will receive Fr. Dan’s body at St. Clement Church in St. Bernard on Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 9 a.m. The Mass of Christian Burial follows at 10 a.m. Interment will take place in the friars’ plot at St. Mary Cemetery immediately follow Mass. The funeral services will be live streamed via the St. Clement Parish Facebook page athttps://www.facebook.com/stclementcincinnati and online at http://www.stclementcincinnati.org/. Memorials may be made in care of FriarWorks, 1615 Vine Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.