Born: 06/29/1958
Indiana, Pa.
Died: 03/17/2026
Montgomery, Vt.
Details of service:
Sunday, May 3, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.
Temple Sinai
500 Swift St.
So. Burlington, VT
No flowers, please.
To join via Zoom:
- Go to https://templesinaivt-org.zoom.us/j/82856204494
- Meeting ID: 828 5620 4494
- Passcode: Terje
It is with the profound sadness that comes from a sudden and unexpected loss that we share the tragic passing of Terje Anderson. Our beloved brother, uncle, mentor, activist, and dear friend died in a fire at his home in Montgomery, Vermont on March 15, 2026. We take solace in the grace that he passed in the peacefulness of sleep.
To paraphrase a tribute from Dr. Jose Zuniga of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care, Terje was a passionate advocate, a principled leader, a bridge-builder, and a relentless voice for dignity, inclusion and equity.
Born James Terry Anderson on June 29, 1958, in Indiana, PA, his family soon moved to the Baltimore, Maryland area. He was called Jim by his family, but most knew him as Terje, the name he legally adopted as an homage to his Swedish heritage.
Terje attended Randallstown (Maryland) Elementary School, Old Court Junior High, and graduated in 1976 from Randallstown High School where he was captain of their “It’s Academic” high school quiz show, which comes as no surprise to anyone who watched Jeopardy with him.
Terje attended McGill University in Montreal. He became fluent in French, had a solid grasp of Canadian politics, and most importantly, honed a sixth sense of great patisseries and restaurants.
When it came to culinary acumen, Terje was second to none. If he needed inspiration, he turned to his vast collection of cookbooks. By vast, we mean imagine the Library of Congress with Julia Child in charge. A dream day for him would include enjoying a double-shot java from his epic espresso machine, while binge-watching the Great British Baking Show, as he prepared a delicious dinner of the most unique ingredients.
Terje truly enjoyed the communal aspect of sharing meals and discovering new foods. Wherever he lived, he delighted in hosting dinner parties for friends and colleagues. He treasured an annual December tradition of making specialty chocolates with his dear friend Jenn Wallace-Brodeur. The two merry chocolatiers would spend months planning the extravaganza. Gifting those unique and meticulously packaged chocolates to friends and family brought Terje abundant joy.
If you knew Terje, you knew he loved his dogs beyond measure. Lucy, Rosa and Bronco, each a rescue of sorts, came into his life at different times. Without a doubt, Terje provided them with storybook lives in the Montgomery countryside that other dogs can only dream of. Terje also held a special place in his heart for his dog nieces, Lacey in Virginia and Isla in Burlington.
Terje dedicated his life to social justice and fairness for all. His lived experience as a gay man, when few sexual orientation rights were enshrined in law, drove Terje to commit his professional life and political activism to ensuring people had the agency, freedom, and legal infrastructure to live and love as they want – in peace, in good health, and with acceptance.
Terje’s public health career focused on HIV and AIDS. In his early years, he worked for the Vermont Department of Health as the AIDS Program Chief. In 1986, along with others caring for friends living with the disease, Terje was instrumental in forming Vermont CARES (Vermont Committee for AIDS Resources, Education and Services). It was the state’s first AIDS service organization, and it grew to meet the unique medical, political, and public perception challenges of the time.
He later moved to Colorado Springs, where as executive director of the Southern Colorado AIDS Project Terje was appointed to the Governor’s AIDS Council and became a member of the HIV Prevention Community Planning Group. His leadership efforts to advance thoughtful policy were further recognized in 1995 when Terje was appointed by President Bill Clinton to the administration’s Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS.
In Washington, DC, Terje served as executive director of the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA), advocating for people living with HIV. He traveled throughout the world where he led and participated in conferences, provided education and training, and met with national and international health leaders. Terje said one of the greatest honors of his life was being on the same panel as Coretta Scott King at the U.S. Conference on AIDS, and he spoke emotionally of his meeting Bishop Desmond Tutu.
After a while, the non-stop pace took its toll, and Vermont was calling. Returning to the green mountains, Terje settled in a cozy Montgomery home converted from a one-room schoolhouse surrounded by the beauty of Vermont’s wilderness. He thoroughly enjoyed being part of the Montgomery community and found peace in his life there.
Terje was the consummate political junkie. This passion of his early teens became his vehicle to get in “good trouble” in the interest of a socially just society. At age 14 Terje volunteered for Shirley Chisholm’s historic presidential campaign, and he was a leader of the 1984 Jesse Jackson delegation to the Democratic National Convention. In 1992 he was the first openly gay person in the U.S. to be chair of a national convention state delegation.
There was not a single congressional race Terje didn’t follow, and he could expound on the fortunes of Canadian political parties and global politics. He was a warehouse of electoral data, and reveled in following results late into every election night.
Terje used his understanding of political machinery to truly make a difference. He worked for years in the grassroots trenches doing the hard work of getting out the vote. Terje also knew that both the angels as well as the devil were in the details, and that having a seat at the table was how you throw open the door for everyone whose voice should be heard.
As a member of the Democratic National Committee and several Presidential Nominating Conventions Platform and Rules Committees, Terje had a direct and meaningful impact on the Democratic Party, building coalitions that helped change party policies and practices to be more progressive, equitable and inclusive. Terje was as fierce in his work for social justice as he was unapologetic in his opposition to authoritarianism and the politics of hate.
In 2017, Terje became chair of the Vermont Democratic Party where he was a dedicated leader committed to supporting local communities through an engaged electorate.
He immensely enjoyed the honor of being selected one of Vermont’s three members of the Electoral College in the November 2020 election and appeared on live national television as Vermont cast the nation’s first electoral votes to formalize Joe Biden’s victory over Donald Trump.
Terje retired from active politics in 2020 due to complications from multiple sclerosis. He continued to be in close contact with the many people he knew in Vermont and around the world, and was a regular contributor to online communities.
As his health stabilized, Terje joined the team at Jay Peak Ski Resort. He could be found behind the front desk several days a week, welcoming guests, troubleshooting youth hockey player hijinks, and enjoying time with his new colleagues. He worked at Jay until his passing.
In the thoughtful words of Dr. Zuniga, “Terje’s voice may be gone, but his impact endures in the policies he helped shape, the communities he strengthened, and the lives he influenced.” Simply put, Terje loved his family, his dogs and his friends.
Terje’s family thanks everyone for their many acts of kindness, support and compassion, including the staff and management of Jay Peak Resort, the emergency crews of Franklin and Orleans Counties who responded to the fire, the Vermont State Police, the Health Department’s Office of Chief Medical Examiner, and the family support program of the Northern New England Red Cross.
Terje was predeceased by his loving parents Max and Barbara Anderson, of Hagerstown, MD; and his adored dogs, Lucy, Rosa and Bronco.
Holding his treasured memory close in their hearts are his beloved sister Kim Anderson Via, of Reston, VA; his nephews, of whom he was so proud, Kevin Via, also of Reston, and Brian Via (Brooke), adored grandniece Lily and grandnephew Caleb, and their sibling whose birth is expected in July, of Herndon, VA; Uncle Butch and Aunt Betty Simpson, of Dubois, PA; Aunt Nancy Anderson, of Creekside, PA.
Terje also leaves behind friends across the globe, including his adopted and cherished Burlington, Vermont family of Ben Truman, Jennifer Wallace-Brodeur, Max, Paul, and their dog Isla – who relished his dog sitting and ball throwing skills.
Keep Terje’s legacy vibrant and alive, be a lifelong voter, and as John Lewis said, get in good trouble. If we all do something, we can change everything.
If you wish to consider a gift in Terje’s memory, may we suggest one of these non-profits:
American Red Cross Northern New England redcross.org/local/me-nh-vt
Lucy’s House for Prevention of Homeless Pets
Venmo @lucyshouseforpetsvermont (be sure to include “In memory of Terje Anderson” and your address) or mail to the address online under “Get Involved”
Outright Vermont outrightvt.org
Vermont CARES vtcares.org
