Friends bid farewell well to longtime friend, maritime workmen and Ballard resident, Jan Anders Vilhelm Anderson (aka John the Swede) on Friday October 30 at Market Arms.

There was a somber fundraising event for Anderson to help pay for medical expenses and a trip back to Sweden where he will get the medical treatment he needs after he suffered a accident. Swedish meatballs were served and friends donated what they could to raise funds for Anderson.

Anderson was hit by a car on Sept 26th while riding his bicycle in Ballard. He was crossing the 24th Avenue NW and NW Market Street intersection when a car struck him while he was in the crosswalk. He suffered a broken tibia and fibula that resulted in a surgery that consisted of bone grafts and the placing of pins and plates in his leg. He was treated at Swedish Hospital in Ballard and has been convalescing at Hearthstone near Green Lake while recovering from surgery.

'John the Swede,” 77, has been living in the U.S. for over 55 years. When he immigrated here green cards did not have expiration dates, and he never thought to replace his card. Now with medical bills accruing and without a replacement green card, Anderson is having problems getting the Medicaid, Medicare and social security he needs to pay for care because they require an original card. The delay is happening because the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services needs to collect biometric information from Anderson in order to get his card renewed.

To make matters worse, Anderson is homeless. He has many friends after years of working as a fishermen and handyman in the maritime industry. Over the years Anderson has lived on boats while he repaired them or in spaces provided by Ballard shipyards and other business owners. Up until recently, Anderson was living in a RV at the Yankee Diner.

Doug Dixon, General Manager of Pacific Fishermen Shipyard, has known Anderson for over 20 years. Dixon said that he’s frustrated with the process Anderson has to undergo in order to get a new green card.

“He’s been an institution around here working on the boats,” said Dixon.

Dixon has been helping Anderson secure a new card as well as organizing a trip back to Sweden.

“It’s not just helping a friend, it’s helping the homeless, doing something for the homeless and having the maritime community take care of one of their own. That’s what it’s all about.”

Debbie Bayliss, co-owner of Market Arms, has known Anderson for years and has also been helping Anderson get his documents in order. She said she is discouraged and disappointed Anderson has to go back to Sweden.

“This is America. It shouldn’t have to be this hard to replace a piece of paper,” said Bayliss.

Anderson was born in Lund, Sweden and first came to the states when he was 23. He competed in the track events at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Later he came to the U.S. and worked with his uncles in the restaurant business in New York City before making his way to Hawaii where he worked in the shipyards. He also fished for shrimp and lobster in Hawaii and crab in Alaska. Later he was a chief engineer on a research vessel before settling in Seattle.

“As he got older the boats would come to town and he would work on them, and he really didn’t have a place to live, but there were enough boats in town throughout the year, and he would live on the boats he was working on,” said Dixon.

Warren Aakervik, of Ballard Oil (Ret.), said Anderson has lived on boats moored on his docks over the years.

“He’s definitely been a local color of the Ballard maritime scene, but I think he needs more help than the community can give, and I think that going home and being taken care of by his family is the best thing for him right now,” said Aackervik.

Anderson flew out on Monday to Copenhagen with plans to join his sister in his hometown, Lund, Scania, Sweden.

Dixon reported that the Swedish meatball dinner raised $1400 to help Anderson with his travels. Pacific Fishermen Ship also purchased Anderson’s airfare to Copenhagen.

About his trip back to Sweden, Anderson said, “It’s another adventure.”

Anderson said that he hopes to make a full recovery and to come back to Seattle, his home.

“Every morning is new and a brand new day. … I hope I can come back and tell you why I left Sweden again.”