John Edward Anderson

Son of a barber, Anderson sold popcorn as a kid to earn extra cash. Attended UCLA on a hockey scholarship and earned $14 a week working nights at an aircraft factory; graduated Phi Beta Kappa. Naval officer during WWII, he studied for CPA exam in spare time; graduated first in his law school night class from Loyola. Started his own law firm in 1953. Three years later, founded Ace Beverage with exclusive rights to deliver Budweiser in Los Angeles. Through Topa Equities, expanded into insurance, auto dealerships, agriculture and real estate. Real estate portfolio has 4 million square feet of commercial space in California, Hawaii, US Virgin Islands. Emphasizes saving; has called compound interest the "eighth world wonder." Anderson had five children with his first wife, Margaret, who died of cancer in 1965. Their daughter Deborah died in a car accident four years later at age 17. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Marion; his daughters Susan McKinley and Judy Munzig; sons John and William; 15 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.