John J. Anderson

Who was John J. Anderson?

John J. Anderson or J.J. Anderson was a writer and editor covering computers and technology. The New Jersey native wrote for publications such as Computer Shopper and Atari Magazine. At the time of his death he was an editor for MacUser magazine in Foster City, California. He was 33, and was survived by a wife, Lauren Hallquist Anderson, son, Peter, and daughter, Katie.

John began writing the "Apple Cart" column in Creative Computing magazine in January 1983 following another Apple // legend, David Lubar who left the magazine to work for a video game company in California. He followed this with the "Outpost Atari" column in the same magazine.

He and fellow MacUser editor Derek van Alstyne were killed in San Francisco during the Loma Prieta earthquake. They were visiting the city for a business meeting when the front of a building collapsed, burying his car in debris from a brick wall. MacUser named two of its annual Editors' Choice Awards, celebrating distinguished achievement and up-and-coming talent, respectively, after the pair.

On October 31, 1989, the John Anderson Memorial Fund was established by Ziff Davis as a trust fund for John's two children Peter and Kate.