Ferdinand Augustus “Gus” Silcox Anderson

Ferdinand Augustus “Gus” Silcox Anderson, Jr., age 77, passed away on Tuesday, May 21st, at Inova Fairfax Hospital. Born on November 9th, 1946 in Columbia, South Carolina to Ferdinand Augustus Silcox Anderson and Eugenia “Pidge” Laffitte Anderson. Growing up in Raleigh, NC, Gus attended White Memorial Presbyterian Church and graduated from Broughton High School in 1965, before being awarded a NROTC Scholarship to Duke University, where he graduated in 1970. After serving in the US Navy for four years, he remained in California to attend law school and during his law studies became a whitewater guide, beginning a lifetime of rafting and kayaking on rivers all over the US. Graduating with a Juris Doctor degree from Golden Gate University, he returned to North Carolina where he served as a staff attorney for North Carolina Legal Services before practicing privately in Raleigh. Following his marriage to Debby Crouse on tax day 1984 in Durham, NC, he continued practicing law in Northern Virginia where they resided in the city of Mclean. Gus’ passion for kayaking found a home on the year-round whitewater on the Potomac among amultitude of fellow kayakers, enabling him to spend many days enjoying spectacular runs and great fellowship. He introduced many friends and more than a few strangers to rafting and kayaking over the years. They accompanied him on trips to the New, the Cheat, the Yough, the Tuolumne, the Yampa, the Snake, the Stanislas and most often, the mighty Colorado of the Grand Canyon, eight times over 40 years! Gus will be remembered as an adventurous and loving man who enjoyed the challenges of running the most complicated rapids, teaching others including his daughter and many friends how to read and run the tumultuous waters of the Canyon. When he was not on rivers, he often skied x-country, exploring places like the SIerras, Yellowstone NP, Colorado, France, and more recently, the beloved whitegrass of Canaan Valley, WV. He also loved deep conversations with his family and friends. He is survived by his wife Debby, brother-in-law Chuck Crouse of Santa Rosa, CA, sister-in-law Lisa Crouse, of McKinleyville, CA, his daughter Ashley, of Arlington VA, and his brother, Chuck, and sister-in-law Nancy Easterling, of Chatham County, NC, and loving nieces and nephews. Family and friends whose lives he touched are invited to celebrate his life and friendship at times and locations to be announced. His family asks that, in lieu of flowers, those so inclined might consider donations to the Potomac Conservancy at potomac.org.