Please help me remember my dear friend Kevin Anderson
It is with great regret that I share the news of the passing of Kevin Anderson the founder of Cognigen telecommunications and Cognigen networks.
I’ve had the opportunity to work with Kevin for the last 6 years and to work closely with him on various projects over the past two years.
Kevin was a great man. There are lots of things about Kevin you probably didn’t know. Some of which I’d like to share with you today.
He is one of the originators of the self replicating web site for affiliates. He has been called upon as an expert witness to help Amazon.com defend itself in trials over “affiliate programs” and patent rights.
Kevin founded Cognigen and made it free because he wanted everyone to have a chance to build a business and didn’t agree with the idea of charging $300 or $400 to build a business. I remember when I discovered Cognigen I had paid $500 or so to join Excel and couldn’t believe that there was a free version of Excel called Cognigen. I could make the same kind of income without having to pay all that money. I also couldn’t believe that they gave me all the tools I needed to succeed like web sites, banner ads, flyers, etc. Cognigen in it’s hey day was a great GREAT company. We will be speaking to the new owners of Cognigen soon and will find out what their plans are for the company. We hope to revitalize this great company founded by Kevin Anderson.
Something else most of you didn’t know is that Kevin has been ill for several years now.
I don’t know all the details.
I do know that Kevin had been seriously ill for years. I understand he did a lot of the programming of the Cognigen web sites when he was in a hospital bed.
I also know that more recently Kevin had been diagnosed with cancer and had been receiving medication which caused him at one point to balloon to 550 lbs. He had a pool built and a medical facility at his home. He was able to use the pool to exercise and had reduced his weight down to only 450 lbs. He had new doctors and felt he was getting better.
Unfortunately recently some medicine he had been given to treat his cancer had caused some complications with his heart.
Even during this time Kevin continued to work on Cognigen and had been developing a plan to revitalize the company. Up to the last minute, even ordered to bed rest Kevin was still planning and focusing his efforts on his family, and that certainly includes his business family, Cognigen.
Kevin was a great man. Kevin’s legacy will be remembered by all of us who knew him well and many who never knew Kevin was behind these revolutions in internet and network marketing.
Kevin is survived by his loving wife Laurel and two daughters Megan and Erin.
We will miss you Kevin and we will keep your legacy alive. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
I’d appreciate it if you would post your comments on what Kevin has meant to you and your family. I think it will be a great way to memorialize Kevin and remember him as this web page will hopefully exist forever. I’d also like to maybe print out the comments from everyone to send to Laurel, Megan, and Erin so they can see how much Kevin meant to all of us.
PS. Jack wrote an excellent post on Kevin and actually corrected me that Kevin’s first self replicated web site was created in 1993! Heck that was the first time I was even on the internet and I didn’t even know about the world wide web or web sites yet! Amazing!
Regards,
Benjamin Fitts
Proud Friend of Kevin Anderson
Some of Kevin’s businesses include:
Cognigen Communications
Ultimate Rep – Downline Builder
Hit Gusher – Traffic Exchange
Leisure Audio Books – downloadable MP3 audio book store
Popularity: 21% [?]
If you enjoyed this post get free updates via email or RSS here.
I too, am very shocked and saddened by Kevin’s death. This man emobodied the spirit of marketing. He was always there to help me out and always answered all my emails. Kevin was in my upline at GDI and I wrote him what I thought was a pretty nasty email, asking what kind of help he was willing to give to his downline that weren’t making 6 figures from home. Kevin responded by joining Empowerism under me and building a huge downline, and said thank you for the email that it woke him up and got him refocused on being online and marketing. The last time I spoke to Kevin he had made me a JV partner in his latest venture, Leisure Audio Books. I had worked with Kevin for about two years, I knew he was sick, but I didn’t know the details. All of my deepest sympathy and condolences go to Kevins wife, Laurel, and his two daughters, Megan and Erin. Kevin will be very missed by all that knew him and his generous spirit.
Linda Sorensen
I did not know Kevin personally but I do know the shadow he left over the internet marketing and and over the internet. There is always a great loss when a pioneer leaves this world. Just remember Kevin is now in the best SPAM FREE site. Kevin rest in Peace. You will be miss by more than you ever will know.
Though I do not know him personally, I’ve been a member of Ultimate Rep, Cognigen and also Hit Gusher.. Hence, I’ve always been receiving emails from Kevin..
And this is a total shock to me.
It’s always sad to hear of anyone passing away. And I sincerely feel for him. May he rest in peace and hope that the legacy he leaves behind will be embraced and remembered by all…
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
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
I am so shocked and saddened by this news. Cognigen was my first successful experience with Internet Markting, and I will miss Kevin. When my original sponsor, Ray Inisco retired a few years back, it was Keving Anderson who took up the slack. He encouraged me to go back to college, and had even assisted me with a class project just a few months age. If I had known he was ill, I never would have bothered him with a trivial class assignment.
By the way, I offer this excerpt from the cognigen PowerPoint presentation to clear up some discrepancies about its history:
Cognigen began in 1992 when founder Kevin Anderson and his wife Laurel sold long distance from the privacy of their home. In 1994, Mr. Anderson pioneered the concept of the “self-replicating web page”. His vision was to build a program whereby anyone could create a viable
Thank you all for sharing. I appreciate your insight into the life of my good friend.
- Ben
I had the privilege, and honor, to know, and work with Kevin E. Anderson, for the past few months.
A kinder, more generous man, never walked the earth.
He truly cared about the success of other people, and set a sterling example, of how to be a “standup” guy.
He was an inovator, a pioneer, and now a legend of internet marketing, as we know it. Kevin will be sorely missed, by us all.
My condolences, and sympathies, go out to the family. May Kevin rest in peace.
It’s said the best of you all is the good one for his wife .
I didn’t know Mr Kevin personally and hadn’t had the opportunity to meet him or speak to him
but Kevin touched me when he talk me about his family ,Laurel and his two daughters, Megan and Erin.
Kevin was not like the others upline i feel his generous spirit in all his emails .
me too i’am so shocked and saddened by this news
My condolences go to Kevins wife, Laurel, and his two daughters, Megan and Erin.
God Bless You Kevin
from Morocco Alkafi
Hi Ben,
Thanks for your post about the passing of Kevin Anderson.
I recently affiliated with Leisure Audio Books because of your recommendation and the testimonial of the founders of Global Domains Internationa, Mike Reed and Alan Ezeir, Kevin’s long time friend.
I am pleased that I did and also want to express my best wishes to his partner Rod Beaumont.
Art
I too was totally shocked by the untimely passing of Kevin Anderson. Kevin and I have had a relationship going back to about 1996 before he founded Cognigen Communications. I was among a very early group that teamed up with Kevin when he first began selling “calling cards” on the internet.
Kevin helped me learn all I know about internet marketing and I have stuck with Kevin through thick and thin as he established Cognigen, Ultimaterep and now LAB.
Kevin was always very generous in his support of me and I consider his passing a severe blow to me personally and to the internet marketing community. We have lost a true pioneer, creative thinker and innovator.
Best regards,
Bill Newell
[...] 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 Founder of Cognigen Dies : Confessions of an Ex-Network Marketing Junkie __________________ [...]
When I woke up on Sunday and saw the notice about Kevin passing away, I kept waiting for an e-mail saying it wasn’t real. I didn’t want to believe it, I still don’t.
I’ve talked to Kevin via e-mail and forums several times and he was always very supportive and straight shooting. I always knew that if Kevin said it, it was gold. I knew that if he was involved then I should be too.
One of the funniest memories was when he said someone was a crap eating bacteria that loved using big words and it was about about 30 letters long. I had to get a dictionary to see what he said. It may not sound funny now but I laughed for hours and still smile when I think about it. Maybe you had to be there.
If it weren’t for Kevin, I’d probably not be involved in network marketing. I don’t know what I’d be doing right now.
I know death is part of life and I can usually accept it. But with Kevin, I feel like there’s a hole in the world where he used to be.
Writing this is hard. I’m still trying to come to terms with it.
Namaste,
Brian
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.
I remember when I first got on to the internet,I found this home based business that I could start for Free! Cognigen .I had paid $500.00 to start a
similar business and did not make a dime.So I joined Kelvin and Cognigen.And he was very cool.I did not really know how to work a computer then.But he would
always reply and answer my Stupid Questions and he was always very nice about it.He must have been a very patience man.Well I guess God need him more than us.
Put a Good word in for me Kelvin
[...] To 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 http://www.homebusinessblogs.com/archives/305/please-help-me-remember-my-dear-friend-kevin-anderson/ [...]
I am envious of those who knew Kevin well. Even though we knew each other as professional colleagues for a decade, we didn’t have our first phone conversation until last year – and that’s when I discovered this man had a beautiful heart the size of Texas.
Despite all he was going through personally, he *always* wanted to know how I was doing, not asking as a mundane “how are you” but inquiring with the expectation of a real answer. I suspect he was like that with everyone.
Kevin’s invention of self-replicating websites inspired me to incorporate them into Empowerism (formerly LEAPnews.com) back in 1997/8. For the last 18 months, he was a shining star in Empowerism, always high on the top ten list in sales each month. He earned the respect of those who chose to work with him.
I regret that our friendship was so brief, but will be forever grateful for being given the opportunity to know him better and work with him over the past year.
God surely blessed us with Kevin.
Happy trails. . .
Janet
For the last 5 years I have known Kevin Anderson I would like to say “DEAR KEVIN ANDERSON REST IN PEACE.” We at BraveChoces.com South Africa we will miss you and your GOOD WORK.
I was saddened to hear of Kevin’s passing. I did not know him personally but I was an early Congigen rep. I felt like I knew Kevin personally because he would reply to emails as if he knew you, which is rare for people in his position.
He was an Internet Marketing pioneer and a true genius.
I pray God’s best for his wife and children.
Anthony Kirlew
Founder, Web Traffic Team
In an industry filled with so few people that you can truly trust, Kevin was a diamond in the rough. I often relied on Kevin’s brilliance and wisdom, and had big plans for us in the very near future. I am truly at a loss… Kevin was one of the greats! Laurel, my heart goes out to you and your family.
David Track
I am at a loss for words. I cannot believe he is not with us anymore. My heart is saddened and it hurts.
Sorry to hear of the loss of Kevin. I am new member as of Sept. 27, 2007. I am sure kevin is in the spirt world with his father god and looks down upon his loved ones. GOD BLESS — Darryl
[...] Please help me remember my dear friend Kevin Anderson [...]
The posts above are truly moving. Kevin Anderson was a legend and will be forever missed.
I’m perhaps one of the first few thousands of agents introduced by Kevin Anderson to the concept of self-replicating (now also called affinity/co-branding/reseller etc) web site back in 1996. I was only about two years into web business and marketing at the time and his online model was a product of a genius, I must say – back when Amazon and Google were still unheard of.
Kevin truly was a great, inspirational man, and will definitely be missed.
Thank you for a great tribute post, Benjamin.