WARREN — Longtime area businessman John A. Anderson, who was owner and CEO of Taylor-Winfield Corp. in Warren, has died at age 87.

Anderson, who lived previously in Vienna, died Friday in Arden Courts, Chagrin Falls.

A spokesperson with Borowski Funeral Services Oak Meadow Cremation Services said the family had reached out to them. A pending death notice appeared in the weekend edition of the Tribune Chronicle.

Longtime friend and company attorney Ned Gold, of Howland, said Anderson was a very private man, but an extremely generous man who made donations to many organizations and groups.

Gold said he was one of the attorneys for Taylor-Winfield for many years starting in the early 1970s.

“John’s family owned the business. He was an excellent businessman. He ran a very fine business and did it without any fanfare,” Gold said. “I know John donated to a lot of causes, but did it without people knowing about it. John was a great guy but was always quiet about many things.”

Gold said Anderson studied business in college and then took over Taylor-Winfield from his father in the 1960s. The company was known for making special manufacturing equipment for other companies.

“Taylor-Winfield was a sterling company. John was a good man who will always be a part of the history of industry in the Mahoning Valley,” Gold said, noting that Anderson sold the business in Warren, which is now a vacant building.

Gold said Anderson was big in the arts and noted that he and Dr. Farid Naffah are the ones responsible for the Medici Museum in Howland that showcases many works of art.

“The Medici Museum would not be here if not for John and the others. That was one of his biggest contributions to the community,” Gold said.

Anderson was director of Foundation Medici, which was created in 1993 with David “Max” Draime of Howland. Gold said he knew Anderson for more than 50 years.

He said Anderson lived at one time in Howland near the area where a plane crashed in late June, killing six people.

“John had lived in that area and was near the woods where the plane crashed this summer,” Gold said.

He said Anderson was living in Chagrin Falls at the time of his death.

Gold said while Anderson wore suits at work, he said he often told him and others he liked relaxing at home wearing a T-shirt and blue jeans.

‘RENAISSANCE MAN’

Judy Anderson said her husband was a great family man, but was also like “a renaissance man” who always went out of his way to help people.

“He would do things without being asked. He was among those who made the Medici Museum possible. If it wasn’t for him and what he and others did, we would not have the Medici Museum, which so many people go to,” she said.

Anderson said her husband often would do things without wanting recognition, but he was appreciated by many for what he did to help others. She said her husband was involved with many organizations in the community.

“John would always go out of his way to help the underdog. He would do things without being asked,” she said.

Anderson said she and the family were always proud of what John did not only in his work at Taylor-Winfield but through community service and helping many others.

In addition to his wife, Anderson’s other survivors include three children, Marc, Eric and Siri, and many grandchildren.