The Loss of Kevin Anderson
Posted in Search Marketing by jspirko on August 13th, 2007 
Pictured on the left is my long time friend Kevin Anderson with his loving wife Laurel. On Sunday August 12th I got some of the worse news of my life when I learned that at far too young of an age Kevin passed away due to health complications. Kevin had been battling some heath issues for many years which I am sure will come to quite a surprise to the majority of people who knew him. He worked night and day to help others build successful businesses online, in fact right up until the final days of his life he continued in this effort. Only those closest to Kevin knew of his battle with illness.
I would guess many of my readers do not know Kevin while quite possibly an equal number will share my sorrow at his passing. Kevin did so much, for so many in his life but many Internet Marketers who never heard of him indeed owe much of what they have today, to him.
You see in 1993 Kevin saw the potential to utilize the then emerging CGI Technology to create the first ever self replicating web site which he used to build Cognigen Networks into one of the most successful online affiliate programs of the 90s. Had Kevin patented the method he could have been wealthy beyond his wildest dreams. Imagine even a fraction of a cent in royalty on every self replicating affiliate site in existence. Now I would bet that today almost every Internet Marketer either started with or developed a lot of their skills and initial revenue with an affiliate program that most likely used this technology.
Yet it is bigger then just not putting a patent on this technology. Kevin realized right away that this method would do amazing things to create wealth and provide opportunity to people all over the world, which is why he never attempted to control or profit from it. Yet a very large company (whom I will not name) soon discovered the method for themselves. They then attempted unsuccessfully to sue Kevin Anderson claiming they created the technology and intended to patent it themselves.
When Kevin won this law suit he had legal validation that he was indeed the creator of the technology and easily could have counter sued the company that sued him and taken this opportunity once again to patent the technology. Yet Kevin fought the suit with the intent from the beginning to ensure anyone who wanted to use it could, his goal was always to help others. So even if you have never heard of Kevin before, if you have ever sold anything via an affiliate program, that created web pages for all affiliates to use; then Kevin Anderson has touched your life. How many people have touched so many others?
Personally my life has been impacted to a far larger degree by Kevin and his kindness and friendship. In 1998 I was trying to "figure out this Internet thing", I knew there was money to be made but had no idea how to actually get it going. I taught myself to build a few sites and played around with some of the early technology and banner exchanges, etc. Then in 2000 I found out about a company called Cognigen Networks, which Kevin founded. Cognigen had no cost to join and allowed you to sell telecommunications services and build a network of other agents doing the same.
I joined Cognigen and started to work hard to develop my business online. In time I became very good at SEO and developed a group of sites that still to this day sell a variety of things from VoIP, to Local Phone Service and Cellular Phones on auto pilot. I branched out from there selling other services and developing an income online. Then in 2003 I experienced a job loss due to a down sizing and was able to move my family back to Texas at a time of my choosing, get a mortgage with no "job" and overall just be a good provider to my family even with the loss of a 6 figure job. Soon after I shifted my career focus to Internet Marketing and left my prior career in sales behind. Today I own my own SEO and Marketing Firm, I own several other companies and I am able to pretty much live my life the way I choose.
It was Kevin Anderson that brought all of this and more to my life. Kevin recognized my passion and made me a National Trainer for Cognigen, he helped I and my partners immensely to launch Marketing ICE, he built an entire affiliate agency for me in another company to "repay my kindness and loyalty to him" and offered me his assistance in all that I ever did.
Did I mention I never actually met Kevin face to face? The picture above is my only knowledge of what Kevin actually looks like. Despite many phone calls, Skype Sessions, IM's and emails I never actually had the privilege of shaking Kevin's hand, something that makes his loss all the more sad to me.
The bigger thing everyone who is part of the the Internet Marketing and business world should know is there are many others just like me (quite possibly thousands) who could tell the same type of story. People who met Kevin and developed a successful life because of his direct generosity, help and guidance. There are not enough people in this world like Kevin Anderson and the world is much poorer for his loss. Kevin leave behind his wife Laurel and two daughters who I am sure will miss him beyond any words. I don't know what words of comfort I can offer to Kevin's friends and family but what I can say is this.
Kevin loved his family and his friends and would not want us to grieve his loss, only to celebrate his life and to make the most of the gifts he gave us all. To remember him not as a friend who left but for the lasting things he acomplished that will live forever, that is how I will remember my friend as a man who gave to the world in such an unselfish way that he was able to touch the lives of millions who have never even heard his name. I will also never do Kevin the disservice of speaking of him in past tense, Kevin Anderson is my friend, mentor and one of my heroes. "Is" not "was" because while the man is gone, his spirit, his kindness and what he gave to all of us can all truly be said to be immortal.
~ Jack Spirko
Popularity: 16% [?]
Please help me remember my dear friend Kevin Anderson : Home Business & Internet Marketing said,
August 13, 2007 @ 12:28 pm
[…] Jack wrote an excellent post on Kevin and actually corrected me that Kevin’s first self replicated web site was created in […]
Rob LeRoy said,
August 13, 2007 @ 12:37 pm
I have been a part of the Kevin Anderson family of Congigen since April 20th, 2001. It was not until about a year later had I been introduced to Kevin. Immediately Kevin offered everything and anything he could do to help me with my business, but Kevin did so much more. He taught me how to be me. He taught me more things about myself which inturn taught me how to be successful in life.
Wow, it is harder to write that than I thought, as I shead a tear for him now.
Kevin, touched so many lives that people could never fathom how many he touched. My business partners that do not even know Kevin are in shock as they heard much about him.
Just realize that the anyone that uses a recipricating website has Kevin Anderson to thank.
Kevin you always talk so fondly of your family. You had the biggest crush on Laurel. Your daughters were everything in the world to you. And you loved us, Cognigen, Ultimate Rep, everyone that you worked tirelessly to help so much and Kevin, thank you so much for loving me.
As we go down the tracks of the train of life, people come off and on your car. Kevin you have ridden along with me for he past 6 years and although you are not jsut a phone call or email away I know you are still on that car with me for the rest of my journey.
God Bless You Kevin
Ben said,
August 13, 2007 @ 12:49 pm
Thank you Jack for sharing. I didn’t even know the exact details of the CGI generated self replicating sites. I thought it was 1996.
Kevin truly was an amazing man then. Even before internet explorer, back with the first web browsers from NCSA and CERN Kevin was innovating and creating self replicating web sites to help you, me, and every other internet marketer succeed.
He was a great man and he will be truly missed. I knew he was sick and even heard the fear in his voice over the past 6 months but I didn’t believe he would die. I truly believed the worst was behind him. He had lost 100 pounds and was getting in better shape.
Kevin I miss you already and I look forward to seeing you again someday. I can’t wait to see what innovations heaven will have in store for me knowing that you are there ahead of me leading the way.
If we can do anything for Laurel, Megan, and Erin we will be here to help them.
Love,
Ben Fitts
Proud friend of Kevin Anderson
Diane Walker "MLMBlonde" said,
August 13, 2007 @ 12:54 pm
Words can not express my thoughts and feelings. Kevin Anderson to me was the epitomy of integrity. I met Kevin years and years ago online, in the early 90’s. He was someone that was always fighting for the “little guy” and when someone was out to rip off people, Kevin was right there to stand up and call a spade a spade. Many people thought Kevin was “gruff” or didn’t like what he had to say, but he NEVER backed down, and if he was wrong, he always said so and apologized.
In the early years, I saw many companies pop up, and he had this knack for seeing right thru them. If they were a scam, he let you know it, and was always right.
In my very early years of learning about our industry, I was in and out of several network marketing companies. At that time they “looked” good but later proved to be corrupt or dishonest. I never could stand to work with or be associated with dishonest people. In good faith I could not introduce anyone to a scam so many times I had to start over and over. I was thrilled when I met Kevin, as I felt I met someone with true insight and wisdom. He was always willing to share.
We were on a mailing list, some of you old internet people may remember, called the “govinda list”.
When Kevin confided in me early in 1998, that he was going to change his company “Cognigen Networks” into a network marketing company, I was stunned. I knew he totally was opposed to MLM because it had a stignma at the time. I also did not know a thing about technology and phone products, but I knew if it was an MLM and Kevin was behind it that people would be treated fairly and I wanted to be part of it.
So September 15, 1998, I started learning about phones. At the time there was only long distance and calling cards so it was much easier that today where the industry has hundreds of products. Kevin was amazing and so dedicated to helping everyone. He was just that rare person that does not come along often. He truly cared about people.
He is going to be greatly missed. I still am having a hard time believing that he is gone. I feel like I’m in shock and stunned. Somehow, I guess, I thought he’d recover and get better.
I had the honor of meeting his lovely wife Laruel, once about 5 or 6 years ago. Let’s all keep her and the girls in our prayers, they are going to really need us.
The thing most people never knew, is from that day early in 98 when Kevin changed Cognigen until he died, he was riddled with health challenges and many times he worked late at night from his bed. He NEVER complained and NEVER mentioned anything about being sick or ill. He confided many things in me over the years, and was a great friend. He looked out for so many people and was NEVER greedy or corrupt.
It’s thanks to Kevin I survived and was able to build a future in our industry. While I did build a Cognigen business and become a national trainer, I also was able to work other companies as my passion was in other areas outside telcom. Keven knew this and NEVER EVER once did he say, I could not work multiple companies, in fact, he encouraged free enterprise. He advised me many times on product lines and companies as well. He was amazing.
Many companies in MLM today could learn valuable lessons from Kevin Anderson. Kevin was a great supporter of anything you wanted to do. He did not operate the business out of fear of loss, but instead treated people the right way. He was an amazing man.
My one big regret, is that I never got to meet Kevin face to face. He was always too ill to travel and a number of years ago moved from Washington to Mexico to get the proper health care, for himself and his daughter Erin. He NEVER complained.
I always intended to fly down to Mexico to finally meet him, just timing was never right. I think that’s an important lesson for us all. DO IT NOW. Dont’ wait, it may be too late.
I know that Kevin is no longer suffering, and no longer sick, but we all will greatly miss his wisdom. He was such an amazing man.
My old friend and ex partner Jack Bastide and myself, are in the final months of completing a book about the network marketing industry, and Kevin and Laurel wrote a chapter in the book. When you read it you’ll get a better understanding of some of the challenges Kevin faced, as he shared a lot of them. Yet with all the things he faced, he still found time to care about all of us.
If you want us to let you know when the book is out, you can get on my notification list by writing publishedbook@aweber.com and/or Jack’s site at http://jackanddianebook.com
We are in final editing, and we have decided to dedicate this book to Kevin Anderson, the man that started it all. Without him, and his vision, I probably would have given up on network marketing. Here was a man that decided to set about building a company and making a difference, and he did.
Kevin Anderson was truly a man of integrity, a great friend, and my idol to the very end.
Love you KEVIN!!!! I know you’re watching over us all. You are the BEST!!!!
Diane
Julie Chamberlain said,
August 13, 2007 @ 1:05 pm
Jack said that he is not gone - that is the beauty of our lives - we leave behind the person we were by our families, our work, our friendships. Kevin and I shared the love of orchids and tropical birds. I had to send him a picture of my beloved scarlet macaw, Ruby and we discussed rare orchids he had seen in Mexico and around the world. Things you wouldn’t think of talking about - those are what made Kevin special to so many.
Like Jack, I always thought I would meet him some year - but since 1996 it seems that time never came. I regret that - although I met Laurel in Tampa, I was never able to personally meet him. Over the last year, I have worked closely with Kevin over the phone and feel like at least I got to know him like he lived next door.
We will miss you Kevin.
Jon Arnold said,
August 13, 2007 @ 3:28 pm
Cognigen was my start at a home business and I can honestly say that I would not be where I am today without Kevin Anderson. He was always willing to give advice, lend a hand, and was an enviable advocate always of “do the right thing”. I saw on many occasions where he went above and beyond the call of duty to help an agent or to provide assistance, and even to forgive past wrongs of an agent to give them a second chance. His belief in people and what they could accomplish if they set their mind to it was awesome. His love for his family was also enviable, and I have to admire him for his ability to command respect as well as balance work & family.
Kevin’s passing will be a loss for all of us. The world was a better place with Kevin in it, and he will be remembered for a very long time.
Jon
Scott said,
August 13, 2007 @ 4:13 pm
I signed up with Cognigen many years ago. Kevin was and still is a source of inspiration for us all. Too young to leave us. God bless and my deepest regards to friends and family.
Marvin Vasquez said,
August 14, 2007 @ 1:10 pm
I joined Cognigen in 2003 it was my first opportunity to get affilliated with a company that not only has a great compensation plan, but also delivers its products and services. I never met Kevin before as Diane said, the picture above is the first I’ve seen of him. May God bless him always!
Kim Anderson said,
August 14, 2007 @ 2:56 pm
Kevin and I went to our first computer class at the local junior college when we were in the 7th & 8th grade, that would have been 1964. I believe I attended only the first class but that was the start of Kevin’s career. I profess to be the distained “end user”.
I was glad to have him here in San Diego when I had the Michelangelo virus, and there was the time he was working on my computer and my cat peed in the box. . . he even managed to fix that.
Probably one of the few times I was mad at him was in the early 90’s when I spent several months in Central America and loaned him my computer, a state of the art 486. When I returned he had installed a new operating system (I was happy with DOS) and I scolded him. . . he just smiled and said I’d like it. . . the first Windows of course.
Though I hadn’t seen my big brother much over the past years I always knew that should I call for help he would be there. . . he also has another sister in Thousand Oaks, CA and parents in Northridge, CA that mourn his passing.
Cognigen Founder Dies - MLM Forum said,
August 14, 2007 @ 5:35 pm
[…] From Zilch Blog » Blog Archive » Kevin Anderson, Founder of Cognigen, Died Saturday August 11th The Loss of Kevin Anderson - ComTech News Please help me remember my dear friend Kevin Anderson : Home Business & Internet Marketing […]
» Kevin Anderson has passed on - John Dilbeck Musings said,
August 15, 2007 @ 1:03 am
[…] Spirko wrote about the loss of Kevin Anderson on his blog, and some of the top Cognigen agents are expressing their feelings about Kevin and all […]
» Kevin Anderson has passed on - Dilbeck Communications said,
August 15, 2007 @ 1:12 am
[…] Spirko wrote about the loss of Kevin Anderson on his blog, and some of the top Cognigen agents are expressing their feelings about Kevin and all […]
Kevin Eric Anderson, Remembered « Leisure Audio Books’ Coffee Shop said,
August 19, 2007 @ 2:31 pm
[…] see just a few of these tributes, please go to http://www.thedigest.com/articles/203/10.html http://www.comtechnews.net/search-marketing/the-loss-of-kevin-anderson […]
R J Okuszka said,
August 26, 2007 @ 1:42 am
After reading about Kevin tonite, I wanted to first off give my condolences to his wife and children, it sounds to me like you had a gem of all gems for a Father and Husband. I also wanted to Thank You for allowing myself amongst countless others who have benefitted whether directly or indirectly from Kevins gifts that he shared while here on earth. He will be missed but what he has left behind cannot and will not be forgotten and every person online needs to pay homage to the creator of our homebased business, Period! Thank you Kevin, you are an inspiration to myself and countless others.. May your family be blessed… RJ
Radiance Johnson said,
August 26, 2007 @ 5:22 am
The voice of the people is the voice of God.
I just came to hear of you a few short months ago but i share the great
sense of loss expressed so passionately by all.
You have worked so tirelessly and unsparingly so that thousands across the globe could find happiness.
You gave your life so that many of us could achieve financial freedom.
Rest in Peace,Kevin;Rest in Peace.
Jonathan R. DeMallie said,
September 1, 2007 @ 2:00 am
Kevin in one word. Doer. Leader. Writer. Reader.
A gentleman always to be remembered by all ..Well yes if we all show the true history of his inventions and works done.
Given to the public realm. Gratis.
He should be a founding father of the internet as his programs were, are and shall be always used by all online.
I had met him when if youall remember the days what we were called ((Phone Freaks)) then BB’s then NCSA CERN more evolved and Kevin gave his time thought and help to all.
In business as in anything the more you show the more shall know the more you share the more shall care.
Tell everyone you know so History is accurate about Kevin _ Anderson as he did not care for his middle name nor initial..
He in my humble opinion did more for the Interenet/Intranet than the one term Vice President Al Gore ever did and he, Sen. Al Gore said he invented it…
Kevin Anderson did so much more than Gore!~
Dee Reynolds said,
September 5, 2007 @ 6:24 pm
It was a shock when I received the email of Kevin’s passing. I really feel for his family and his friends. I know that Kevin will always be with us in spirit.
I know God must love Kevin very much. Just because of all the love, care, and friendship, he gave us while he was here on earth.
I don’t know where all his energy came from. Especially since I learned that he had health problems. He never complained or let on that he was ill. I wish I had 1/2 of his drive and energy.
I am sure we will all look forward to seeing him someday.
Aaron Siegel said,
September 14, 2007 @ 2:36 am
Kevin was an inspired me throughout the years and I am trying to come to grips with this. I hope his family can find peace in the help he brought to others.
Brian Rooney said,
September 14, 2007 @ 8:23 pm
Kevin Anderson, you have always been a tremendous blessing to the network marketing community.
You are admired, respected and missed by those who remain to follow in your footsteps.
We can all learn a few things from this man and his tremendous passion.
Brian Rooney
TrafficWave.net LLC
Darryl McKitchens said,
September 28, 2007 @ 1:16 pm
GOD BLESS the freinds and family of KEVIN. Kevin is again with his father GOD as a spirit child and looks down upon his friends from the spirit world. Darryl