Daughter donates kidney to father, a Bayonne teacher

Hudson Reporter

BAYONNE AND BEYOND -- Francis Anderson worked two full-time jobs for 35 years as a history and religious education teacher by day, at Marist High School in Bayonne, and a freight agent for American Airlines by night. He was lucky to get five hours of sleep per night, and went over 13 years without a sick day or an unscheduled day off. Since his time off from the airline was during the week, he did not even have weekends free. Despite his unwavering energy and dedication to providing for his family, Mr. Anderson’s health was the only thing to finally slow him down.

On Nov. 7, 2011, with his wife of 52 ears, Carol, by his side, Mr. Anderson received a kidney donation at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center’s Renal and PancreasTransplant Center from his daughter, Sharon Feniello, of South River, who is an East Brunswick Board of Education employee.

“He has been an amazing inspiration for me, and for his co-workers,” says Mrs. Feniello, whose sister, Colleen, was also prepared to be a donor. “He never loses sight of the fact that there is always someone else who has a more difficult situation than he does and he makes it a point to motivate all of us to be held to the same morals and values.”

After retiring from American Airlines, Mr. Anderson, who is a diabetic, had quintuple-bypass heart surgery 10 years ago, but he did not slow down. He used his free time after teaching to coach soccer, work the time clock at basketball games, and organize fundraisers and school reunions as the school’s alumni director.

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