UPDATE | Bainbridge High grieves loss of beloved teacher

Published 2:36 pm Monday, September 8, 2014

Staff and students at Bainbridge High School were shocked and saddened by the sudden and tragic death of Mike Anderson in a drowning accident late Sunday in Tiger Lake in north Mason County.

Anderson was the head coach for the Spartans co-ed tennis team, an economics teacher at Bainbridge High and the career and technical education director at the school.

“We really are still in disbelief,” said BHS Principal Mary Alice O’Neill.

“The staff — we’re just shocked and so sad. It’s a huge loss,” she said.

Anderson died while swimming in Tiger Lake, a popular recreation destination about 10 miles south of Bremerton, on Sept. 7.

Detective William Adam of the Mason County Sheriff’s Office said deputies arrived at Tiger Lake at about 6:10 p.m. Sunday after receiving two 911 calls about a woman screaming for help and a swimmer in distress.

Deputies responded with a medic and fire unit.

“Upon arrival, they were able to see out on the water somebody being given CPR on [a] motorboat,” Adam said.

Recreational boaters had pulled Anderson out of the water, but were unable to restart the boat to get him to shore, Adam explained.

Since emergency responders did not have a boat in the Tiger Lake area, Anderson was transferred to another passing recreational boat before he was brought to medics waiting on the shoreline.

Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.

Staff at Bainbridge High were told of Anderson’s death before school started for the day.

An announcement was made to students later in the morning.

Counselors were made available to staff, students and families, and O’Neill said some students had already come by to talk to counselors.

A counselor will also meet with the tennis team after school Monday.

The school is waiting until staff can speak with Anderson’s family before any memorial at the high school is planned.

“It’s a very, very sad day,” said District Superintendent Faith Chapel. “Obviously this is something that’s very difficult for all of our staff, particularly the staff at Bainbridge High School.”

“Mike was very, very well-regarded and just truly admired and respected. He was a very warm, caring and very committed staff member,” she said.

Chapel said Anderson was well-regarded not only inside the classroom but outside, where he coached a number of sports at the high school and also represented the school at numerous community events.

Anderson was recognized by the Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island with a Paul Harris Award in 2012 for his service for the Interact Club and for his stalwart support of the Student of the Month program.

“He was a Spartan through and through,” Chapel said.

Chapel said plans have not yet been started for a memorial, and any remembrance would only come after discussions with his family.

Review reporter Cecilia Garza contributed to this story.