Beata “Bea” Anderson
Competition | 1987
Hometown: West Brookfield, Massachusetts
Beata “Bea” Anderson’s stellar athletic career spanned from 1968 to 1979, during which time she accumulated a lot of hardware. She was named the outstanding female athlete seven times at either the New England or Bay State Wheelchair Games. In regional competitions, primarily at the New England or Bay State Games, she won 140 gold medals, 20 silver medals and 1 bronze over the course of her career. Bea was selected to nine different international teams competing in two Paralympic games, three Stoke Mandeville Games, 3 Pan American Games and a World Championship. In all, she garnered eleven gold medals, ten silver medals and fourteen bronze medals and a world record in international competition. In addition, Bea won twenty-seven medals and set five national records in archery, field events and pentathlon. She was also the table tennis champion in her class for seven years.
Bea’s outstanding accomplishments weren’t confined to the field of competition. Her contributions to the disability community were numerous. She organized the Worcester Wheelers Bowling League and served as its president for a number of years. Bea served on the Massachusetts Governor’s Committee on Recreation and Sport for the Disabled in the early 70’s. She also organized the Massachusetts Minutemen Wheelchair Sports Team in the mid-70’s. Bea served for twelve years on the Massachusetts Easter Seal Camping and Recreation Committee. She served for seven years on the board of the New England Wheelchair Athletic Association, including serving as the treasurer or secretary during this time. Bea was instrumental in the creation of the Boston Rotary’s Edward J. Powers Award, recognizing the outstanding male and female athletes at the New England Wheelchair Games.
Bea Anderson gave back to the sports and movement that she loved in so many ways.
