Henrietta Michota Anderson

Henrietta “Bobbie” Anderson aged 98, formerly from Huntington, NY passed away after declining health on September 23. She was predeceased by her parents Zofia and Stanislaw Michota, her beloved husband William, and her daughter-in-law Laura Anderson.

She has left behind her sister Eleanor McGuire, her children Bruce (Susie) Anderson, Pam (Wes) Sparks, James Anderson, and Karen (Dick) Dubois, eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Bobbie was born, Hendryka Eva Michota, at home in, NJ. She graduated from Bayonne High School. Pearl Harbor was attacked on her 18th birthday; after which she spent many Saturdays raising GIs spirits, while dancing to live swing bands, in night clubs in NJ and Manhattan. She worked as a secretary at US Steel and Swiss Bank. She met, and later married, Bill, a decorated WWII Air Force lieutenant who worked at First National City Bank, now Citibank. 

They married in Bayonne and moved to an apartment in Queens. She was required to “retire” when she was pregnant with her first child, as it was unsuitable to have a married mother as a secretary at that time. Shortly after, they built a starter home in Albertson. Later, in 1964 Bobbie and Bill moved into their beautiful new home in Huntington where they raised their four children and she resided for 56 years.

Bobbie was a wife and mother first, never having a career, but working many jobs (primarily in banking) and retired from Chemical Bank in 1988. Bobbie loved her family and good friends. She was a great cook and consummate hostess. She maintained a lovely home, and enjoyed sharing meals at a table set with fine china, fresh flowers and the requisite glass of wine in her dining room.

Bobbie traveled the world in her retirement, visiting 37 countries. She was an inveterate bridge player well into her nineties when her failing vision prevented her from seeing the cards. She joined her first book club at ninety years old. Bobbie was fiercely independent, hard working, curious, and stylish. She lived a long, loving, rich life. We will miss her. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Laces of Love (www.lacesoflove.org)