Most people imagine and dream to have the spouse I was blessed with. A man who adored me and I adored him. We spent every moment outside of work together and on weekends.
When he saw patients, I often sat in the parking lot and waited on him so we could begin our weekends together. When he had chemo, I called it our chemo and together we went every weekend and many weeknights for years.
We were clearly a match made by God as he was a complete complement to every area in which I needed to be fulfilled, and I complemented him in just the right ways. God creates people for each other to uplift his work and, oh my, what a joyous privilege to have had the honor to be Stan’s wife, uplifting the work of him bringing children into the world so that I could educate them.
He brought them in and I took it from there, and together we improved the lives of children in multiple states. We had this work covered – from the womb to college. One doctor on one end and one on the other. What a team!
I can remember praying as I transitioned in my second year of college, praying that God place those in my life he wanted me to have for his work to be done. Soon after, while lost on campus at Saint Louis University, I met Stan.
He found me. I was lost on campus, and my future husband found me far from where I needed to be, on the opposite end of the campus, and directed me to where I was supposed to go. Even that now has another deeper prophetic meaning.
It was love at first site, literally. There was just something about him, and he said the same about me. After one date, we were inseparable, and we were married by the end of the year on August 14, 1993.
As I began my career and supported him through medical school, he cared for our newborn daughter and took her to classes with him, resulting in her deep knowledge of science. She just graduated from SLU in public health pre-med and works in the ER at DePaul Hospital, the hospital where he worked as a OB-GYN resident. Her second job is at Children’s Hospital, teaching public health classes in the community while she studies to take the medical school exam.
My son Chris, who also has a gentle soul, learned so much on how to be a kind, humble, strong man from watching his father in action. His bond with his dad was amazing to watch – through everything, Stan never missed an athletic event for Chris, who played multiple sports. Supporting the children we were blessed to have is a lesson to be learned from watching such a great man.
Because Stan encouraged me to become a school leader, I am now a superintendent, impacting thousands of children. Because I encouraged and supported him through medical school, he excelled to the highest possible levels of his career and delivered thousands of new lives. I learned that lives are interconnected and you can only be truly fulfilled when others are also fulfilled and doing well. We are all dependent on one another.
I savor his strength, kindness, incredible gentle soul, his sense of humor and his love for life. We see our purpose to be a connector for young lives, and I am so thankful for the partner God gave me to do that.
Making a legacy and being the first paves the way for others. Dr. Stanley Anderson, an African-American man who did not come from wealth, matriculated through SLU with honors from undergraduate to medical school. He is a lesson to all young African-American men to know that they too are destined for greatness regardless of circumstance.
As a 49-year-old black man, Stan became the first African-American OB-GYN chair for one of the largest hospitals in Kansas City, Missouri. He still committed one day a week to serve the underserved at Swope Health Clinic, which speaks volumes about service above self.
A young black man, trained as a molecular biologist and an OBGYN surgeon, years ago became one of few robotic surgeons in Missouri. That is a lesson in risk-taking and being innovative to show new ways to solve problems. Robotics is the wave of the future, and his early willingness to explore opened hearts, minds and opportunities for others.
Dr. Stanley Ladelle Anderson is a perfect example of being a teacher and a fisher of men. He is an example of God’s light in this world, who taught me and countless others so much. He was a walking miracle. What a privilege to have been selected to care for him in his healthy state and through the medically challenging years.
Although we both loved Jennings School District, we both were so grateful to those who didn’t question my move to Topeka and celebrated and supported us, not even knowing the health issues we faced. For God to create a new path in Kansas in such a way where Stan and I could start and end every day together this last year, I have to say miracles really do happen through Christ. I remain thankful for the time, even through the heartbreak.
Happy Anniversary, Stanley, my husband and soul mate. I cannot wait to see you again. Until then, the work we started for children and youth across states will continue on.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Topeka Community Foundation to be directed to the Drs. Stanley and Tiffany Anderson Scholarship Fund. Gifts may be sent to 5431 SW 29th Street, Suite 300, Topeka, KS 66614 or made online at www.topekacommunityfoundation.org.
Tiffany Anderson is superintendent of Topeka Public Schools and former superintendent of the Jennings School District.
