John J. Anderson
Encyclopedia
John J. Anderson or J.J. Anderson (November 8, 1956 – October 17, 1989) was a writer and editor covering computers and technology. The New Jersey native wrote for publications such as Computer Shopper and Atari Magazine. At the time of his death he was an editor for MacUser
magazine in Foster City, California
. He was 33, and was survived by a wife, Lauren Hallquist Anderson, son, Peter, and daughter, Katie.
John began writing the "Apple Cart" column in Creative Computing
magazine in January 1983 following another Apple // legend, David Lubar
who left the magazine to work for a video game company in California. He followed this with the "Outpost Atari" column in the same magazine.
He and fellow MacUser editor Derek van Alstyne were killed in San Francisco during the Loma Prieta earthquake
. They were visiting the city for a business meeting when the front of a building collapsed, burying his car in debris from a brick wall. MacUser named two of its annual Editors' Choice Awards, celebrating distinguished achievement and up-and-coming talent, respectively, after the pair.
On October 31, 1989, the John Anderson Memorial Fund was established by Ziff Davis
as a trust fund for John's two children Peter (born 1985) and Kate (born 1988). Bill Ziff, President of Ziff, personally contributed $50,000.
MacUser
MacUser is a biweekly computer magazine published by Dennis Publishing Ltd. and licensed by Felden in the UK.In 1985 Felix Dennis’ Dennis Publishing, the creators of MacUser in the UK, licensed the name and “mouse-rating” symbol for MacUser to Ziff-Davis Publishing for use in the rest of the world....
magazine in Foster City, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He was 33, and was survived by a wife, Lauren Hallquist Anderson, son, Peter, and daughter, Katie.
John began writing the "Apple Cart" column in Creative Computing
Creative Computing
Creative Computing was one of the earliest magazines covering the microcomputer revolution. Published from 1974 until December 1985, Creative Computing covered the whole spectrum of hobbyist/home/personal computing in a more accessible format than the rather technically-oriented BYTE. The magazine...
magazine in January 1983 following another Apple // legend, David Lubar
David Lubar
David Lubar is an author of numerous books for teens. He is also an electronic game programmer, who programmedSuper Breakout for the Nintendo Game Boy, and Frogger for both the SNES and Game Boy. As a game designer, he designed the game Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge for the Nintendo Game Boy Color...
who left the magazine to work for a video game company in California. He followed this with the "Outpost Atari" column in the same magazine.
He and fellow MacUser editor Derek van Alstyne were killed in San Francisco during the Loma Prieta earthquake
Loma Prieta earthquake
The Loma Prieta earthquake, also known as the Quake of '89 and the World Series Earthquake, was a major earthquake that struck the San Francisco Bay Area of California on October 17, 1989, at 5:04 p.m. local time...
. They were visiting the city for a business meeting when the front of a building collapsed, burying his car in debris from a brick wall. MacUser named two of its annual Editors' Choice Awards, celebrating distinguished achievement and up-and-coming talent, respectively, after the pair.
On October 31, 1989, the John Anderson Memorial Fund was established by Ziff Davis
Ziff Davis
Ziff Davis Inc. is an American publisher and Internet company. It was founded in 1927 in Chicago by William B. Ziff, Sr. and Bernard G. Davis. Throughout most of its history, it was a publisher of hobbyist magazines, often ones devoted to expensive, advertiser-rich hobbies such as cars,...
as a trust fund for John's two children Peter (born 1985) and Kate (born 1988). Bill Ziff, President of Ziff, personally contributed $50,000.
Articles about his death
- Z*Magazine: 29-Oct-89 #179 - located at end of web page
- Weblust: MacUser