Mary Anderson (business executive)

Mary Anderson
Born
Mary Gertrude Gaiser

(1909-12-07)December 7, 1909
Yakima, Washington, US
DiedMarch 27, 2017(2017-03-27) (aged 107)
Washington, US
OccupationsTeacher, Executive
Years active1938–1968
Known forCo-founder of Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI)
SpouseLloyd Anderson (m.1932–2000, his death)
Children2 daughters

Mary Gertrude Anderson (née Gaiser; December 7, 1909 – March 27, 2017) was an American business executive, known for co-founding Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) in 1938 with her husband, Lloyd Anderson.[1]

As avid mountaineers in Seattle, Washington, they saw a need for quality gear so created a consumer cooperative company that is one of the largest recreational equipment retailers.[2][3] They were inducted into the Cooperative Business Association's Hall of Fame in 1993.[4]

In honor of her 100th birthday in 2009, December 7 was "Mary Anderson Day" in Washington state and the city of Seattle.[5]

Early life and education

Mary Gertrude Gaiser was born on December 7, 1909, in Yakima, Washington, to John and Gertrude Gaiser. She contracted polio at age six and spent time in an iron lung; her recovery fostered a lifelong passion for the outdoors.[6] She moved to Seattle and worked as a grade-school teacher in the 1930s, incorporating nature studies into her curriculum.[7] In 1929, she joined The Mountaineers with her future husband Lloyd. They were among the earliest graduates of the club's basic climbing course in the mid-1930s, studying under mountaineering instructor Wolf Bauer. After graduating, they began instructing other aspiring climbers. Mary later served two terms as secretary and two as treasurer of the club.[6][7]

Family life

In 1932, she married Lloyd Alva Anderson.[8] Early REI catalogs were produced with artistic contributions from her daughters, Ruth and Sue.[9] She died at age 107 in 2017.[1][10]

Legacy

In 2009, the REI Foundation established the Mary Anderson Legacy Grant, a $50,000 annual award to support programs that engage youth in hands-on outdoor education and exploration.[5] The Mountaineers received the grant in 2011 and 2012 to expand youth outreach programs.[11]

Mountaineering achievements

Anderson scaled more than 60 peaks in the 1950s and 1960s, and established several first ascents in the North Cascades.[6] She also assisted Lloyd with the "Climber's Notebook," a project that evolved into the first edition of Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills (1960), which became the standard reference for climbers worldwide.[11]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Tu, Janet I. (April 4, 2017). "Outdoors enthusiast Mary Anderson, who co-founded REI, dies at 107". Seattle Times. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  2. ↑ Morse, Gardiner (May 2003). "Gearing Up at REI". Harvard Business Review. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Lloyd and Mary Anderson". Cooperative Hall of Fame. Cooperative Business Association. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  4. 1 2 Heim, Kristi (December 9, 2009). "REI creates grant in honor of co-founder's 100th birthday". Seattle Times. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 Drosendahl, Glenn (July 1, 2025). "REI – Recreational Equipment Cooperative". HistoryLink. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  6. 1 2 "Happy 107th Birthday, Mary Anderson!". The Mountaineers. December 7, 2016. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Washington, County Marriages, 1855-2008 — Lloyd A Anderson and G Mary Gaiser". FamilySearch. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. November 28, 2018. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  8. ↑ Walker, Catherine (April 5, 2017). "A Tribute to Mary Anderson, REI's Co-Founder". REI Uncommon Path. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Mary Anderson, Co-Founder Of Outdoor Outfitter REI, Dies At 107". NPR. April 12, 2017. Retrieved May 12, 2026 – via All Things Considered.
  10. 1 2 Vogl, Tom (April 3, 2017). "Mary Anderson, Mountaineer and REI Co-Founder, Passes Away at 107". The Mountaineers. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.