Virginia "Ginger" Anderson

Virginia M. “Ginger” Anderson, 91, passed away peacefully on July 17, 2026. Born on June 27, 1935, in Staten Island, New York, Ginger was the daughter of Christopher and Margaret Heckman. 

She grew up in Bronxville, New York, and Castleton, Vermont, alongside her siblings, Donald, Marjorie, and Joyce. She graduated from Bronxville High School in 1953 and earned a degree from Rosemont College in Pennsylvania in 1957. On September 6, 1958, she married Paul Burman Anderson. Together they built a life in Proctor, Vermont centered on family, education, travel, and treasured summers at the lake while raising their four children. 

Ginger began her career with Rutland Public Schools in 1970 and later earned a master’s degree in Educational Administration from Castleton State College. During her distinguished career, she served as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal in several elementary schools in Rutland City and Rutland Town, retiring in 1997. From 2002 to 2010, she continued her commitment to education through the Woodruff Institute Mentorship Program at Castleton State College. Throughout her career, Ginger was deeply dedicated to supporting both students and educators and was respected for her leadership, compassion, and commitment to learning. 

Ginger embraced life with enthusiasm and enjoyed sailing, camping, golfing, skiing, reading, oil painting, quilting, knitting, crocheting, and playing bridge. She and Paul shared a love of travel and spent many happy summers with family at cottages on Lake Dunmore and Lake Bomoseen. In retirement, Lake Bomoseen remained a cherished gathering place where family memories continued to be made. 

She was a member of the Proctor-Pittsford Country Club and a devoted member of St. Dominic’s Parish in Proctor, where she served as a lector.

Ginger is survived by her children, Linda Anderson, Diane Auger, Richard Anderson, and Scott Anderson; her son-in-law, Guy Auger; her grandchildren, Leigh-Anne Cioffredi East, Courtney Cioffredi, Kale Auger, Cassidy Fenton, and Noah Auger; her great-grandchildren, James East, Adelaide East, Gunnar East, and Maeve Auger; and numerous nieces and nephews. 

She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Paul B. Anderson, who passed away on January 12, 2001; her sisters, Marjorie and Joyce; her brother, Donald; and her parents, Christopher and Margaret Heckman. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, August 14, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Pittsford, Vermont. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Proctor Free Library, 4 Main Street, Proctor, Vermont 05765, in honor of Ginger’s lifelong love of reading and education.