Clinton David Andersen

Clinton David Andersen, beloved husband, father, son, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend, passed away suddenly on September 3, 2026, at the age of 54. His unexpected death from cardiac arrest has left his family and many friends heartbroken.

Yet even in the midst of this profound loss, those who loved Clint find themselves remembering the incredible joy, humor, adventure, and love that he brought into their lives.

Clint was born in San Jose, California, to Anne Morse Andersen and Russell David Andersen. He spent his early childhood in San Jose, Oakland, and Piedmont before moving with his family to Mercer Island, Washington, where he attended Mercer Island High School and graduated in 1991.

From a young age, Clint was a lovable character, with an infectious smile that brightened those around him and a natural sense of humor that could make people laugh almost instantly. He had a wonderful ability to take life in stride, enjoy the moment, and encourage others to do the same.

“Take it easy” and “Don’t worry, be happy” seemed to perfectly capture his outlook on life. He was someone who lifted people up and reminded them not to take life—or their troubles—too seriously.

Clint was adventurous from a young age. His love of the outdoors started when he was young, out in his father’s sailboat on San Francisco Bay and backpacking with his family in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. While living on Mercer Island, Clint enjoyed countless hours as a teenager, kneeboarding with his buddies on Lake Washington. After graduating from high school, he moved to Alta Resort, Utah, where he had the time of his life downhill skiing, one of his favorite adventures, and working for a year, before moving to Guam with his father and stepmother. While attending college on Guam, he worked part-time at a dive shop called Channel.

One day, Clint put up a flag in the waters of Guam as a marker for the company. That simple act led to a fateful encounter with the Japanese woman who would later become his wife, Haruko, whose nickname was Tara.

Following that flag into the water with a friend, Tara first met Clint during a night dive.

Tara had always dreamed of working in diving at a resort. She later began working for the same company where Clint worked, and before long, the two were drawn to each other and began dating.

Clint later became a dive instructor, and the life they began together through the ocean was, in many ways, a very Clint-like story—full of coincidence, adventure, and unexpected turns.

When they first met, neither of them could speak the other’s language, and they often relied on a dictionary as they tried to communicate. But perhaps because words could not always express what they wanted to say, they learned to understand each other through thoughtfulness and care. Those feelings gradually grew into love.

The two were married on December 1, 1996, on the island of Guam. In 1998, their daughter, Rina Marjorie Andersen, was born. Afterward, the family moved to Arizona, where Clint attended the University of Advancing Technology (UAT), the college he had long dreamed of attending, and earned his bachelor’s degree with a focus in graphic design.

In 2002, their son, Tyler Joseph Andersen, was born. Blessed with two children, they built their family together and later lived in Chiba, Japan, for seven years.

During those years, Clint worked as an English conversation teacher and had the opportunity to meet and connect with more than 100 students. He truly enjoyed his work and treasured the many relationships he formed along the way.

The family then moved to Oahu, Hawaii, where Clint and Tara became involved in the tourism industry. Together, they operated successful condominium renovation and vacation-rental businesses, as well as a travel service for people visiting from both the United States and Japan.

Clint loved being a husband and a father with all his heart.

He was deeply involved in his children’s lives and was incredibly proud of their growth and accomplishments, both academically and athletically. He was always excited to talk about what they were doing, supported them wholeheartedly, and strongly encouraged them to pursue the things they loved and wanted to do.

As the family settled into their life in Hawaii, another beloved member joined the family. They met Ranger, a gentle golden retriever with an exceptionally sweet soul, who looked remarkably like Shandy, the beloved dog Clint had lost when he was young. Clint and Ranger spent many wonderful days together, enjoying the ocean, hiking, and simply being together.

Over the years, Clint had developed and refined his skills in home renovation while living in Hawaii. With growing confidence in his abilities, he took on his next big challenge.

At a time when his son was entering high school and his daughter was entering college, Clint decided that the family should move to Seattle, where their family had roots. He took on a major renovation project on an older home and completed it successfully.

To this day, we vividly remember how proud he was of what he had accomplished.

As a father, he was also looking forward to watching his son play basketball and loved being there to cheer him on.

Then, in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic brought an incredibly difficult period to people around the world. It was a challenging and exhausting time for Clint, just as it was for his entire family.

In 2021, as he finally began to emerge from that long tunnel, the family decided to move back to Arizona.

For Clint, one of the greatest joys of the years that followed was taking his first RV trips with Tara and Ranger.

Together, they traveled throughout the United States, visiting interesting towns, beautiful natural places, campgrounds, and state parks.

Clint truly loved nature. He knew how to stop, look around, and take in each moment with joy and gratitude.

From time to time, he also enjoyed RV trips and trips to Japan with his daughter and son.

He taught his son, who lived in Seattle, how to golf and fish, and he treasured the time he was able to spend with his daughter, who lived in Japan and Chicago, whenever they could be together.

He was incredibly proud of her artwork and the work she created while attending the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Nothing made Clint happier than seeing his children living their own lives and pursuing their own dreams.

And then there was Ranger.

Clint and Ranger shared an extraordinary bond, and Clint considered Ranger his best friend.

Ranger remained a beloved member of the family for many years before passing away on October 30, 2025.

Losing Ranger just three months after the loss of his father, Russell, on August 1, 2025, was an especially profound heartbreak for Clint. The months that followed became a time of deep reflection and mourning for him.

For the sake of being close to the people he loved, Clint was even considering leaving the Arizona sunshine and moving to rainy Seattle or to Japan.

He often joked that he was a “nomad at heart,” and he truly was a free spirit.

He loved traveling with Tara and their children and especially cherished their trips to Japan. There, he became close with Tara’s family and formed many irreplaceable friendships.

The many students who learned conversational English from Clint will surely remember him fondly.

In his later years, his love for his mother, Anne, was especially deep. He loved her with all his heart.

During the final months of his life, Clint developed a strong interest in his family genealogy and began researching the history and roots of his father’s family.

Working alongside his mother, he became absorbed in uncovering family stories and mysteries that stretched across generations.

The project became a precious opportunity for the two of them to grow even closer, share discoveries, and create new memories together.

Clint is believed to have passed away peacefully on September 3, 2026, at his home in Chandler, Arizona.

On September 4, he was found resting in his favorite leather recliner, with his eyes closed, his head gently tilted to one side, and his hands resting peacefully across his waist.

For those who loved him, there is great comfort in imagining that he simply drifted from sleep into his final peaceful rest.

Clint is survived by his wife, Haruko Yukawa Andersen; his children, Rina Marjorie Andersen and Tyler Joseph Andersen; his mother, Anne Morse O’Halloran; his sister, Angela Delight Sheffield; and his nephews, Blake Robert Sheffield and Mason Andersen Sheffield.

He also leaves behind countless relatives and friends whose lives were made brighter simply by knowing him.

Those who knew Clint will remember his smile, his goofy expressions, his humor, his sincerity, his adventurous spirit, and his remarkable ability to make people feel that somehow, life was going to be okay.

A man who loved deeply, traveled widely, laughed often, and treasured his family above all else.

That was Clint.

We are heartbroken that we were not given more time with him.

And yet, we are deeply grateful for the 54 years we were given.

For the laughter, the adventures, the memories that we will tell again and again, and the love that continues to remain within us.

For all of it, we are grateful.

Clint was, is, and always will be our husband, our son, our father, our brother, our uncle, our cousin, and our friend.

His physical presence was taken from us far too soon, but what he left in the hearts of each and every one of us will never disappear.

One of Clint’s favorite songs was “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” performed by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole.

Perhaps we can imagine that he is somewhere beyond this physical world now, surrounded by the beauty and freedom he loved so much.

Our dearest Clint,

We love you with all our hearts.

We are so proud of the 54 years you lived and of the man you were.

And we will carry the light you gave us within our hearts forever.

A Celebration of Life for Clint will be held in 2027, one year after his passing, following the same format that held such special meaning for Clint and our family when we celebrated the life of his father, Russell.

Following the gathering, Clint’s ashes will be scattered in Elliott Bay, Seattle, at the same location where his father Russell’s ashes were scattered.

During his father’s memorial, Clint once said that he hoped that someday his own ashes would be scattered there as well.

None of us could have imagined that day would come so soon. Farewell only for now, dearest Clinton.

This is not goodbye.

“To the free spirit, death is not an ending, but a continuation of the flight, a quiet slipping away from the shore, out into a vast and beautiful sea where the soul is finally unbound.”

— Walt Whitman

クリントン・デイビッド・アンダーセンは、最愛の夫であり、父、息子、兄弟、叔父、いとこ、そして友人として、54歳で2026年9月3日に突然この世を去りました。心停止による突然の死は、家族や多くの友人たちに深い悲しみをもたらしました。

　この大きな喪失の中にあっても、クリントンを愛した人たちは、彼が自分たちの人生にもたらしてくれた素晴らしい喜び、ユーモア、冒険、そして愛を思い出しています。

　クリントンは、アン・モース・アンダーセンとラッセル・デイビッド・アンダーセンの息子として、カリフォルニア州サンノゼで生まれました。幼少期を姉のアンジェラ、シェフィルと共にサンノゼ、オークランド、ピードモントで過ごした後、家族とともにワシントン州マーサーアイランドへ移り、マーサーアイランド高校に通い、1990年に卒業しました。

　幼い頃からクリントンは、愛嬌があり、周りを明るくする笑顔と、すぐに人を笑わせるユーモアを持っていました。人生を肩の力を抜いて受け止め、その瞬間を楽しみ、周りの人にも同じように楽しむことを勧める、そんな素晴らしい才能を持っていました。

「Take it easy（気楽にいこう）」や「Don’t worry, be happy（心配しないで、楽しくいこう）」という言葉は、まさに彼の人生観を表していたように思います。人を元気づけ、人生や悩みを深刻に考えすぎないように思い出させてくれる人でした。

　クリントンは若い頃から冒険心にあふれていました。高校卒業後、父と継母とともにグアムへ移り、大学に通いながら、ダイビングショップ「チャネル」でパートタイムで働いていました。

　そしてある日、彼が会社の目印としてグアムの海にフラッグを掲げたことが、後に妻となる日本人女性、湯川春子（ニックネーム：タラ）との運命的な出会いにつながりました。

　そのフラッグを目指して、友人とともに海へ向かった春子が、クリントンと初めて出会ったのは、ナイトダイビングの海の中でした。

　春子はリゾートでダイビングの仕事をしたいという夢を持っていたこともあり、その後、クリントンが働いていた同じ会社で働くことになりました。二人は次第に惹かれ合い、交際するようになっていきました。

　その後、クリントンはダイビングインストラクターとなり、海を通じて始まった二人の人生は、まさにクリントンらしい、偶然と冒険に満ちたものでした。

　初めて出会った頃はお互いの言語を話すことができず、辞書を片手にコミュニケーションを取っていました。ですが、言葉が通じなかったからこそ相手を思いやる気持ちが深まり、それが少しずつ愛情へと変わっていったのだと思います。

　1996年12月1日にグアム島で結婚し、1998年には娘のリナ・マージョリー・アンダーセン(湯川里奈)を授かり、後にアリゾナへ引っ越し、クリントンは念願だったUniversity of Advancing Technology（UAT）に通うことになりました。大学ではグラフィックデザインを専攻し、学士号を取得しました。

　2002年には息子のタイラー・ジョセフ・アンダーセン(湯川泰良)も授かり、2人の子供に恵まれて家庭を築き、その後一家は7年間、日本の千葉で暮らしました。

　その間、クリントンは100人以上の生徒たちに英会話を教え、たくさんのご縁にも恵まれ、働くことを楽しみました。

　そしてハワイ・オアフ島へ移り、クリントンと春子は観光業に携わりました。コンドミニアムのリフォームやバケーションレンタル事業、アメリカや日本から訪れる人々のための旅行サービスなどを運営し、成果を出しました。

　子どもたちの人生に深く関わり、学業やスポーツでの成長や成果を何よりも誇りに思っていました。子どもたちが何をしているのかをいつも楽しそうに話し、心から応援し、好きなこと、やりたいことを追い求めるように強く背中を押していました。

　クリントンは、夫として、そして父親として生きることを心から愛していました。

　一家のハワイでの生活が慣れてきた頃、大切な家族が加わりました。クリントンが幼い頃に亡くした犬、シャンディにそっくりな、レンジャーという穏やかでとても優しい心を持ったゴールデンレトリバーと出会い、海やハイキングに行くなど、楽しい時間を過ごしていました。

　クリントンはハワイでリフォームの腕を磨き、自信をつけ、クリントンの次なる挑戦として、息子が高校生に、娘が大学生になるタイミングで、自身の家族や親戚の住むシアトルへ引っ越すことを決めました。古い家のリフォームという大きなプロジェクトを完成させたことを、彼自身とても誇らしく思っていたのを、今でも鮮明に覚えています。

　父として、息子のバスケットボールの試合を見に行くことも、とても楽しみにしていました。

　しかし2020年、コロナ禍の只中でクリントンや家族も、世界中のたくさんの人同様、辛い思いをしました。

　2021年になると、その長く暗いトンネルから抜け出し、その結果再びアリゾナへ引っ越すことを決めました。その後のクリントンにとって、大きな楽しみの一つは、レンジャーと春子と一緒に初めてのRV旅行をすることでした。

　アメリカ各地を巡り、興味深い町、美しい自然、キャンプ場、州立公園などを訪れました。

　クリントンは自然を心から愛していました。立ち止まり、周りを見渡し、その瞬間を喜びと感謝とともに味わうことができる人でした。時折娘や息子もRV旅行に参加し、家族で楽しく過ごしました。

　シアトルに住む息子にはゴルフや釣りを教え、日本やシカゴに住む娘との時間も、会える時には大切に過ごしていました。娘が通っていたSchool of the Art Institute of Chicagoでのアート作品を、彼はとても誇りに思っていました。

　クリントンにとって、子ども達がそれぞれの人生を歩み、自分たちの夢を追いかけている姿を見ることほど嬉しいことはありませんでした。

　その後、2025年8月1日に父ラッセルを亡くしてからわずか3か月後の10/30日に彼と特別な絆で結ばれていた、レンジャーもこの世から去る事になり、クリントンにとって非常に大きな悲しみでした。数か月は、彼にとって深く思いを巡らせ、悲しみと向き合う時間となりました。

　愛する家族のそばにいるためなら、アリゾナの太陽を離れ、雨が多いシアトルや日本へ引っ越すことも考えていました。

　彼は自分のことを「根っからのノマド（旅人）」だとよく冗談めかして言っていましたが、本当に自由な心を持っていた人でした。

　春子や子どもたちとの旅行を愛し、特に日本への旅を大切にしていました。日本では春子の家族とも親しくなり、多くのかけがえのない友情も築きました。

　クリントンから英会話を学んだ数多くの生徒たちも、きっと彼を懐かしく思い出すことでしょう。

　彼の晩年、母アンへの思いは特別なものでした。彼は母を心から愛していました。

　人生の最後の数か月、クリントンは家族の家系図やルーツに強い関心を持つようになり、父方の家族の歴史を調べ始めました。

　母と一緒に取り組みながら、何世代にもわたる家族の物語や、まだ知られていなかった謎を探ることに夢中になっていきました。

　その活動は、二人がさらに深くつながり、新しい発見を分かち合い、新たな思い出を作る貴重な時間となりました。

　クリントンは2026年9月3日、アリゾナ州チャンドラーの自宅で、穏やかに息を引き取ったと考えられています。

　9月4日、彼はお気に入りの革張りのリクライニングチェアに座ったまま、目を閉じ、頭をそっと横に傾け、両手を腰のあたりに静かに置いた状態で発見されました。

　彼を愛した私たちにとって、眠りについたまま、そのまま静かに最後の眠りへと移っていったのだと思えることには、大きな慰めがあります。

　そして、彼と出会ったことで人生をより明るいものにしてもらった、数えきれないほどの家族や親戚、友人たちがいます。

　クリントンを知る人たちは、彼の笑顔、ひょうきんな表情、ユーモア、誠実さ、冒険心、そして「きっと人生は大丈夫だ」と思わせてくれる特別な力を覚えていることでしょう。

　彼は家族を深く愛し、一緒に泣いたり、笑ったり、彼と過ごした時間は何度でも語り継ぎたい思い出、そして今も私たちの中に残り続ける深い愛、そのすべてに感謝しています。

　その身体は54歳と言う年齢で、あまりにも早く私たちのもとを離れてしまいましたが、彼が私たち一人ひとりの心に残したものは、これからも消えることはありません。

　クリントンが大好きだった曲の一つに、イズラエル・カマカヴィヴォオレが歌う「Somewhere Over the Rainbow」があります。

　きっと今、彼の魂はこの世界を越えたどこか、彼が愛した美しさと自由に包まれた場所から家族を見守ってくれていると感じています。

　あなたが生きた54年間を、私たちはとても誇りに思っています。

　そして、あなたが灯してくれた光を、これからも永遠に私たちの中に抱いて生きていきます✨

あなたを心から愛しています💖

追伸:クリントンのCelebration of Life（人生を祝う会）は、彼が旅立ってから1年となる2027年に、クリントンと私たち家族にとって大切な思い出となっている、父ラッセルの人生を祝う会と同じ形式で執り行う予定です。

集いの後、クリントンの遺灰は、父ラッセルの遺灰が撒かれた場所と同じ、シアトルのエリオット湾に撒かれる予定です。