Dr. Seth Anderson was infamous for doing rounds late at night; for always having a cup of coffee on hand (and making a pot for everyone whenever one wasn’t available); for frequently ordering obscure labs; for often driving lab techs to bemusement and frustration over his fussiness with how he wanted said labs to be run; and for presenting a curmudgeonly exterior that rapidly gave way to a tender heart of gold and a willingness for lengthy late-night conversations.
I had already known some of these characteristics of my father, but when I posted that he had passed, comments poured out from nurses and co-workers at Goleta Valley Cottage and Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara that further detailed the story of his career, all noting his intimidating presence while declaring their deep love and admiration for him regardless. A common refrain emerged: “Smartest man in the room.”
A notable physician specializing in the field of infectious diseases, with an additional specialty in tropical medicine, Seth Anderson died on July 1 at the age of 85 after a long battle with the blood anemia disorder myelodysplasia.