The death of Mark Anderson on Wednesday, November 13 at age 65 is a great loss for the Walla Walla Valley community. His contributions have been immeasurable. He was a a native of Walla Walla and graduated from Walla Walla High School in 1973 and from Whitman College in 1977. He married his wife, Patty in 1976. In 1980, the couple started the Walla Walla Foundry which cast sculptures for famed artists such as Manuel Neri, Maya Lin and Jim Dine (whose story-high Pinocchio, cast for Boras, Sweden wowed us). He and Patty also founded the Foundry Vineyards winery in 2003 to bring together wine and art at the tasting room and gallery on Abadie Street, off 13th Avenue.

Mark's many accomplishments include anchoring Art Walla which brought public art to the community, managing the Gesa Power House Theater, participating in the Walla Walla Piano Group, and serving as an Overseer of Whitman College. He was always ready to help and his friendliness and generosity were incomparable.

Mark's legacy will live on through his family. His wife, Patty, is a mover and shaker in the community. Daughter Lisa Anderson is an events manager at Foundry Vineyards. She did a superb job in preparing the gallery for the celebration of my 50 years in the wine industry. Son Jay is the artistic director of Foundry Vineyards and winemaker. The Foundry Vineyards 2016 red wines will be reviewed in the December issue of the Review of Washington Wines. Last spring, the winery released Jay's pet project, the "Pet Nats," pétillant naturel sparkling wines which sold out quickly.

A Celebration of Mark's life will be held on Saturday, November 23 at 4 p.m. at Cordiner Hall at Whitman, followed by a reception at the Reid Center Ballroom. A report on this event will be in next week's Review Blog.