The Kentridge community gathered last Saturday to honor one of its own as a baseball field at Petrovitsky Park was named after Eric Anderson, the high school’s longtime athletic director who died July 7.

Anderson was 57 years old.

Anderson’s wife, Margy, and their children, Maria and Ian, were on hand for the dedication ceremony. King County Council members Reagan Dunn and Dave Upthegrove and state Sen. Joe Fain, R-Auburn presented the family with a plaque.

During the ceremony, a photo montage was shown, and the family thanked everyone for their support.

Described as “the face of Kentridge,” Anderson began teaching in the Kent School District in 1985 at Meeker Middle School, after working in the Tonasket School District. He came to Kentridge High School in 1998 and became the school’s athletic director in 2000.

Students and staff remember Anderson as an organizer and enthusiastic supporter of sports and academics. He encouraged students in their classrooms and extracurricular endeavors, and was a beloved and compassionate leader and co-worker.

“Eric Anderson was a great man,” Dunn said. “The positive influence he had on Kentridge High School and its students is immeasurable. His selflessness and dedication were admirable, and we lost him too soon.”