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Fred Anduze - Honoring by Senator Kurt Vialet and Senator Avery Lewis – Legislature of the Virgin Islands Testimony by G Rita Dudley Grant, PhD, MPH, ABPP September 22, 2025 Good afternoon, Senators Kurt Vialet and Avery Lewis and all Senators and attendees present and via media. It is an honor for me, Dr. G. Rita Dudley Grant, to offer testimony on bill No. 36-0107 in the recognition of Dr. Alfred Lee Anduze. I am proud to be among the testifiers as a cousin, patient and friend, celebrating this outstanding icon of our community. Dr. Alfred L. Anduze is a native born Virgin Islander with an ancestry pedigree that spans generations. He is born to the Anduze family, a large and well-known Virgin Islands family with ties to many other large and well-known families, inclusive of the Lockhart family of which I am a member. In fact, his grandmother was my mother’s Godmother, hence I knew of Dr. Alfred Anduze long before we actually met, as I am a St. Thomas native while he grew up in St. Croix. According to family legend as provided by my brother, George Dudley, “cousins married cousins”. Herbert Ernest Lockhart and Mildred were cousins and Karen Ingeborg Pedersen Lockhart and Carl Anduze were cousins. For local history buffs I was provided with a Daily News excerpt from 10/16/39 by my cousin Catherine Lockhart Mills. It reads, “Mrs. Maria Fritzberg, 82 years, aunt of Mrs. Herbert E. Lockhart and Mr. Carl A. Anduze, died at the municipal Hospital on Saturday night 7:30 O’clock, after a lingering illness, and was buried yesterday afternoon at the Western Cemetery. This information notes the almost century old family connection. The information is provided to establish historical context to highlight how successfully Alfred Anduze has walked in the path of many of his ancestors who excelled in the medical field. Of special note are his Father, Dr. Aubrey Anduze, a dentist and Senator and his uncle, Dr. Roy Anduze, who was a former Commissioner of Health, and my very first doctor. I note Dr. Alfred Anduze’s legendary contributions in medicine as a source of pride for our families and recommend a thorough reading of the excellent Bill 36-0107, a resolution honoring and commending Dr. Alfred Lee Anduze for his outstanding achievements and significant contributions to the fields of medicine, science, public health, and community empowerment. However, my testimony will focus on Dr. Alfred Anduze the person whom I consider a Renaissance Man. His abilities and interests far exceed his medical career, notable as it is. In fact, Fred or “Freddie”, as he is affectionately known by family and close friends, is a man who “walks the talk” and lives his beliefs. He is extremely health conscious, has owned and operated his own farm where he and his wife Sari “nee Soto”, a fellow “Thomian”, childhood friend and classmate of mine, have lived very “close to the soil” while also carrying on medical research. At the same time, he is a worldwide traveler and has lives part time abroad, fostering that perspective in his children to the extent that his son, Lee Anduze, is an internationally known musical performer choosing a self-made path where he resides in Greece and where Fred and Sari visit frequently. Note that Sari has been Dr. Anduze’s staunchest support over the many decades of their married life. However, the families are so large that we truly are “Too numerous to mention”. Hence I beg forgiveness from all who feel overlooked but note that we are a “village” celebrating one of our own. What is perhaps most noteworthy of Dr. Alfred Anduze is his ability to connect with people from all walks of life and all continents in the world. His extensive knowledge and skill is tempered by a genuine compassionate and supportive spirit that engenders security and respect in others. His attention to detail is legendary, as is his extensive knowledge of our local culture. My family is one of the lucky recipients of his annual Christmas Card puzzle which always challenges one’s knowledge of local lore in many different arenas. The most recent puzzle Christmas 2024 tested our knowledge of DNA, when past puzzles have tested recipients on everything from Taino history to classical literature, and of course local herbs. Dr. Alfred Anduze is first and foremost a physician who has never lost sight of his care and concern for his patients. I credit Dr. Anduze with helping my husband Richard Grant, at the age of 83 to still have his eyesight despite a variety of challenges, as do so many other patients and family members. One never feels rushed or pressured when speaking with him. He does not “talk down” to his patient but rather tries to ensure that the patient understands the need for treatments which can be at times difficult to manage. His reassuring manner encourages compliance, which I am sure contributes to his high levels of success in practice and in research. I would also like to celebrate Fred Anduze, the person. His genuine engagement with others from all walks of life, all over the world, has made him a person who engenders trust and confidence. His vast knowledge of so many topics, history, literature, science, technology, tempered with his natural humility makes conversation always engaging and enriching. In conclusion, I again want to thank the Legislature for this well earned recognition and encourage everyone to join in the celebration of the legendary accomplishments of one of our own. Thank you for the opportunity to testify on behalf of the family, patients and friends of Dr. Alfred Lee Anduze. Dr. G. Rita Dudley Grant, Ph.D., MPH, ABPP, Honorius Causa Licensed Clinical Psychologist, USVI, Massachusetts/Private Provider, Island Therapy Solutions Instructor University of the Virgin Islands