Curtis Mourns the Passing of R. Anderson Pew
The Curtis Institute of Music is deeply saddened to share the news that R. Anderson “Andy” Pew passed away on June 25, at the age of 85. The longtime Curtis trustee, former chairman of the Pew Charitable Trusts, director at the Glenmede Trust Co., executive at Sun Oil Co., and beloved philanthropist, dedicated 11 years (1992–2003) to serving the Curtis community, and will be sorely missed.
A lifelong volunteer, community worker, and supporter of the arts and biomedical research, Mr. Pew served on boards of The Jackson Laboratory, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and many other organizations. In addition to his legacy here at Curtis, he was a trustee at the Academy of Music, Temple University, Bryn Mawr College, and Bryn Mawr Hospital. Mr. Pew was integral in planning Philadelphia’s 1976 Bicentennial celebration and generously established the Brandywine River Museum and the Brandywine Conservancy, protecting over 69,000 acres of land throughout Pennsylvania and Delaware.
Admired for his wit and irreverent sense of humor, Mr. Pew was born in Philadelphia on August 22, 1936. He grew up on Long Island, New York, graduated from the Hotchkiss School in Connecticut, and attended Princeton University, Temple University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. An avid pilot and sailor, Mr. Pew was also a trustee and chairman of the board for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.
In tribute to Mr. Pew, his family wrote, “He was a proud and humble mentor to so many, always asking questions instead of providing answers, inspiring curiosity and asking only in return to leave the door open wider than it had been found.”
R. Anderson Pew left an indelible mark on the world around him during his lifetime, and his presence here at Curtis will be felt for many years to come. The Curtis community extends our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Daria, and his children, as well as to all his dear friends, family, and colleagues.
View Mr. Pew’s obituary in The Philadelphia Inquirer.