Mary Anderson (business executive)

Mary Gertrude Anderson (née Gaiser; December 7, 1909 – March 27, 2017) was an American business executive, known for co-founding REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.) in 1938 with her husband, Lloyd Anderson.[1]

Mary Anderson
Born
Mary Gertrude Gaiser

(1909-12-07)December 7, 1909
Yakima, Washington, US
DiedMarch 27, 2017(2017-03-27) (aged 107)
Washington, US
Occupation(s)Teacher, Executive
Known forCo-founder of REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.)
SpouseLloyd Anderson (m.1932–2000, his death)
Children2 daughters

As avid mountaineers in Seattle, Washington, they saw a need for quality gear so created a consumer cooperative company that is one of the largest recreational equipment retailers.[2][3] They were inducted into the Cooperative Business Association's Hall of Fame in 1993.[4]

In honor of her 100th birthday in 2009, December 7 was "Mary Anderson Day" in Washington state and the city of Seattle.[5]

Family life

Gaiser was born to John and Gertrude Gaiser in Yakima, Washington. In 1932, she married Lloyd Alva Anderson.[6] She died at age 107 in 2017.[1][7]

See also

References
  1. Tu, Janet I. (April 4, 2017). "Outdoors enthusiast Mary Anderson, who co-founded REI, dies at 107". Seattle Times. (obituary). Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  2. Drosendahl, Glenn. "The Mountaineers" (https://historylink.org/ : accessed March 2, 2020) History Link Essay 20547 Posted April 20, 2018
  3. Morse, Gardiner (May 2003). "Gearing Up at REI". (https://www.hbr.org : accessed March 1, 2020) Harvard Business Review. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
  4. "Lloyd and Mary Anderson". Cooperative Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 25, 2012.Lloyd and Mary Anderson". Cooperative Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  5. Heim, Kristi (December 9, 2009). "REI creates grant in honor of co-founder's 100th birthday". Seattle Times. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  6. "Washington, County Marriages, 1855-2008," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP9M-KQLK : November 28, 2018), Lloyd A Anderson and G Mary Gaiser, June 19, 1932, Yakima, Washington, United States, Washington State Archives, Olympia; FamilySearch digital folder 007285622.
  7. "Mary Anderson, Co-Founder Of Outdoor Outfitter REI, Dies At 107", (https://www.npr.org/ : accessed March 2, 2020) NPR, All Things Considered April 12, 2017
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