Jeff Anderson has designed many memorials and headstones in his life. As the fourth generation of his family to run Anderson Memorials, located in Austin and Rochester, his designs are meant to honor the memories and stand as a silent tribute to the deceased.

In early September, the American Institute of Commemorative Art recognized Anderson’s craftsmanship by awarding him the Eugene H. Faehnle Award at its annual conference, held this year in Canada. The award, given to the overall first-place winner was for his work on the Anderson Monument at Oakwood Cemetery in Rochester.

“The Anderson Monument is for my parents – Rolland and Lenora Anderson – who worked in the monument industry their whole lives,” he said. “That’s what makes this award so special to me.”

The AICA is an invitation-only organizationof the top 50 memorial designers in the United States and Canada. Once selected, memorial designers have to submit a portfolio of work for review. The nearest member of the organization must also interview them. From invitation to acceptance, the process takes one to two years. Anderson was invited in 1988.

“(The AICA) really focuses on the craftsmanship and artistry,” he said.

Members submit their designs in various categories to compete at AICA conferences.  Judges consider design, craftsmanship and the story behind the memorial.

“Before (my parents) retired 26 years ago, their goal was to make their own monument,” Anderson said. “Twenty-six years of drawing designs for them finally got one they agreed upon, shortly before my father died. Dad never got the chance to see it completed.”

Anderson described the monument as more than 10 feet tall and 12 feet long. The materials are steeled finish blue/gray granite from Barre, Vermont, and polished French Creek black granite from Pennsylvania, which Anderson said were two of his father’s favorite types of granite to work with.

The monument contains a significant amount of symbolism, Anderson said.

“The Vertical Barre Tablet is based on the monument that is depicted in our company logo which has been used for decades,” he said. “The cross represents their strong Christian heritage. The epitaph on the base margin is our family-company slogan: ‘To Remember – and Be Remembered – is the Desire and Heritage of all Generations.’”

Black pieces on the monument include other forms of symbolism.They are rustic on the left side and polished on the right, representing the family’s work of changing rough stone into beautiful monuments, Anderson said.

Between the bases is a polished slab of Norwegian Blue Pearl granite with a bronze lily pad sculpture symbolic of his parents’ love for the outdoors. On the back is a lengthy poem about them and representational acronyms of the organizations in which they were involved.

Anderson’s design won first place in the large monument category as well as the grand prize. Anderson has won several category awards in the past, but this year was the first time he received the Eugene H. Faehnle Award.

“The design represents their lifetime in the monument business,” Anderson said. “That’s what makes this award so special to me.”