Willard L. Anderson II

Resident of Pittsburgh, PA, age 55, Will left the human body that could no longer sustain him and went to be with the Lord on Friday, April 17th, 2026. He left this world the same way he lived in it—on his own terms, with stubbornness, humor, and a deep, unshakeable love for the people who mattered to him.

Will was preceded in death by his father and namesake, Willard Anderson. He is survived by his wonderful and loving mother, Rosemary Anderson; his son and greatest pride, Christopher; his favorite sisters, Robin and Tiffany (Donna) Taylor; his nieces Savannah and Katie; the most significant women in his life, Sherlonda "Robin" Johnson and Juliet Pishinsky; and of course, his four‑legged buddy, Max, who never left his side and never stopped loving him.

Will loved the Lord, and in the final chapter of his life, his diagnosis didn’t weaken his faith — it sharpened it. It brought him back into a deeper, more intentional relationship with God, one rooted not in fear but in clarity, humility, and gratitude. He spoke often about grace, about purpose, and about the quiet ways God shows up in the middle of hardship. His renewed faith gave him strength, steadiness, and peace, and he faced his illness with a courage that came from knowing he was held by something greater than himself.

Death cannot quelch the love and pride he carried for his son, Christopher. His son was the light of his life, the reason he kept fighting, the reason he kept learning, the reason he kept going. Will would have moved mountains for Christopher—he often tried—and he never stopped wanting the best for him.

Will was a lifelong learner in the truest sense. He believed knowledge was endless and curiosity was a responsibility. He reminded everyone that there is always something new to learn, and that humility is the only honest way to walk through the world. At a young age, he taught himself assembly language and how to write code, simply because he wanted to understand how things worked. His mind was always 6–7 steps ahead, sometimes more, and he had a way of seeing the whole chessboard when everyone else was still figuring out the rules.

It should come as no surprise that Will loved reading—fiction, non‑fiction, anything that fed his mind. He shared his wisdom freely, often helping friends and coworkers solve problems they didn’t even know how to articulate. “Where there’s a Will, there’s a way” wasn’t just a saying people told him; it was a truth he lived out loud.

Will was passionate about science, astronomy, and technology. He lived life on his terms, often with a middle finger or devil horns raised proudly in the air. He believed in doing things the right way—never halfway, never sloppily. If you were going to do something, you did it right, or you didn’t do it at all.

Music was a cornerstone of his life. Heavy metal ran through his veins, with Megadeth holding the top spot in his heart. His tattoos—crafted by his artist and friend, Justun—were works of art that told the story of who he was: bold, thoughtful, intense, and unapologetically himself.

He loved Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and all things skulls (because skulls!). He enjoyed traveling, with Sedona, AZ holding a special place in his heart. He put fellow travelers at ease with his signature reassurance: “We’re going on an adventure!” He hated cold weather and had absolutely no shame in using friends as windbreakers.

Will loved food—loved it with the enthusiasm of a man who understood flavor on a molecular level. He could detect subtle notes in a dish that others missed entirely. He hated anything too salty or pickled, and he shared his passion for cooking with anyone who would listen. He enjoyed canning and gifting his creations. Before the pandemic, he was an avid espresso drinker; during the pandemic, his best friend introduced him to the finer aspects of good tea, and he quickly became an unapologetic tea snob. Because Darjeeling. Lest we not forget, Will also appreciated the finer things—especially scotch old enough to have its learner’s permit.

One of the most legendary examples of Will’s relationship with food came the day he brought breaded veal onto an airplane—yes, through security, in a carry‑on, and yes, he ate it right there in the cabin like it was the most normal thing in the world. Only Will could turn a commercial flight into a personal dining experience. He had no shame, no hesitation, and absolutely no concern for what anyone thought. If he wanted breaded veal at 30,000 feet, then that was exactly what was going to happen. It was classic Will: practical, unapologetic, and deeply committed to enjoying life’s pleasures wherever he happened to be.

Will was funny—effortlessly, naturally, and often unexpectedly. He always had a quick comment, a sharp observation, or a perfectly timed one‑liner that could break tension or spark laughter. His humor wasn’t just jokes; it was connection. It was how he showed love. It was how he reminded people not to take life too seriously.

He wanted people to remember to love their families, to hold them close, and to not work so hard that they forget what truly matters. He believed time was the most valuable thing a person could give, and he gave it freely to the people he cared about.

Will will be loved and missed by his friends and family. He left an indelible mark on all who knew him, and his passing is a great loss to the world. But his voice, his humor, his wisdom, and his love will echo in the lives he touched.

Take care of yourself. Love your family. Eat good food. Drink the good stuff. And stop working so hard that you forget to live. Life is a precious gift.

We would like to thank the nurses, doctors, and staff of Allegheny General Hospital Oncology Ward, as well as the home care workers, for the tender, loving care you gave Will during his stays at the hospital and the at home care. 

Family and friends welcome on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 from 10:00 am until the time of service at 12:00 noon at WM. SLATER & SONS INC. (381-3345) 301 Virginia Ave, Mt. Washington 15211. Burial to follow in Greenwood Memorial Park, 104 Melwood Rd. Lower Burrell, PA 15068.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to his team, Will Power, at PanCAN.org.