Leon O. Andersen, MD

Leon O. Andersen, MD, 91, of Lititz passed away surrounded by family at his home on Wednesday, February 14, 2018. Born in Oslo, Norway, he was the son of the late Fridtjhof and Birgit Bendiksen Andersen. Leon was married to Edith Knudsen Andersen on July 5, 1956, celebrating sixty-one years of marriage this past July. Leon arrived in New York at Ellis Island after escaping from Nazi occupied Bergen, Norway on the mercy ship American Legion at the age of 13. He graduated from Ft. Hamilton High School in Brooklyn, NY, Harvard College and Columbia College of Physician & Surgeons receiving his medical doctor degree. He did his post medical training at Bellevue Hospital. He served as a medical doctor and Captain in the U.S. Air Force stationed in Chateauroux, France from 1959-1962. He worked for 30 years as a cardiologist at Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, NY where he founded and directed the coronary care unit. Upon retirement and moving to Lancaster, he devoted his time to the Lancaster Heart and Stroke Foundation. He initiated an innovative defibrillator program that placed these life saving devices in every Lancaster county police car. These devices have saved more the 100 lives in the past 20 years. For his volunteer work, he received awards from the Police Chiefs of Lancaster, the American Heart Association and Lancaster Rotary distinguished service award. He enjoyed skiing, golfing, history, traveling and was fluent in many languages. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons: Rolf L. (Kimberly) Andersen, MD and William K. (Ofelia) Andersen, MD, both of Lititz, PA, five grandchildren: Sarah, Lars, Liam, Kristen, and Karl Andersen. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to Leon’s Celebration of Life Funeral Service at The Groffs Family Funeral & Cremation Services, Inc, 528 W. Orange Street (corner of W. Orange & Pine Sts.) Lancaster, PA on Saturday, February 17, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. The family will receive friends from 9:30a.m. until the time of service. Private family interment in Machpelah Cemetery in Lititz. In lieu of flowers, donations in Leon’s memory may be made to Doctors Without Borders, 40 Rector Street, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10006.