The Marquette University community mourns the loss of a close friend, alumnus, trustee and significant benefactor, Harvey J. Anderson II, Eng ’84, who passed away on Thursday, Dec. 19. During Marquette’s 2021 Alumni National Awards ceremony, Anderson was honored with the university’s Professional Achievement Award. At that time, he said Marquette changed his life’s trajectory, providing what he called “a platform to develop the confidence to excel and contribute.”
Anderson came to Marquette as a student in the Educational Opportunity Program, which supports low-income and first-generation college students to attend and graduate from the university.
“On behalf of the entire Marquette community, we express our deep sadness for this immense loss of an alumnus and trustee who was a true man for others,” said Marquette President Kimo Ah Yun. “Harvey was a pillar in our community, and we are especially grateful for ways in which he gave back generously to our Educational Opportunity Program. His aim was to ensure that Marquette students had all the support they needed to thrive.”
After spending his undergraduate years in Marquette’s Opus College of Engineering, Anderson excelled professionally through a successful career in tech-industry law. He spent much of the past decade as a mentor in the university’s Marquette Mentors program, connecting with Marquette students who sought to pursue a similar career path.
“While Harvey was known for his accomplished career success by so many, we will always remember him for the ways in which he lived out our Ignatian values,” said Opus Dean Kristina Ropella. “He selflessly modeled what it means to give back and to Be The Difference.”
Anderson previously credited Dr. Arnold Mitchem, Grad ’81, Hon Deg ’04 with igniting his passion for public policy and for opening doors when he returned to Washington, D.C. after graduation, where he landed his first job in the office of a Michigan senator.
Eight years later, after working in engineering and then public policy roles, Anderson earned his law degree from the University of San Francisco. He then provided in-house legal counsel for several of Silicon Valley’s most influential companies, including Netscape, AVG, Mozilla and Hewlett-Packard, where he served as chief legal officer and corporate secretary. He joined the Marquette University Board of Trustees in 2022 and provided counsel on many important strategic initiatives.
Through all of his professional successes, Anderson always found time to give back to his alma mater, especially to benefit students. He arranged and funded a “Digital Discovery” tour in Silicon Valley for EOP and Upward Bound students, taking them to top tech companies like Google, Facebook and Dropbox and helping them to broker professional connections. Anderson was also a valuable contributor to Marquette’s “Silicon Valley Experience,” hosting and mentoring students who travel west to explore careers in the tech industry.
“Harvey was a wonderful person who believed in always searching for ways to make the future even brighter for our students,” said Vice President for University Advancement Tim McMahon. “Our Educational Opportunity Program is a national leader because of people like Harvey, who have invested in academic excellence and the students who benefit. It was impossible not to love Harvey and his unforgettable smile. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family during this very difficult time.”
Gifts in memory of Harvey can be made to the Marquette University EOP Fund online at https://give.marquette.edu/anderson-memorial. Checks can be made out to Marquette University and mailed to PO Box 7013, Carol Stream, IL 60197-7013.am, IL 60197-7013.
