Edward VanderHey

Born 3/23/33 to Edward VanderHey, a dairy farmer, and Bertha (Newhouse) VanderHey, both offspring of Dutch immigrants in Clifton, NJ. He was the oldest of 4 boys and 1 girl. He attended Clifton High School and then went to Bloomfield College on an athletic scholarship, where he played both basketball and baseball and ran cross country. He was later inducted into their Athletic Hall of Fame. He was drafted by the St. Louis Browns, a minor league team for MLB, but instead, he chose to attend Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Speets, just after they both graduated from college, and they were happily married for 71 years. They have 5 children, 11 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren. Ed received his doctorate of Ministry from Andover Newton Theological Seminary. He and Barbara served in churches in the small communities of Pulaski and Carthage, NY, followed by the First Baptist Church of Syracuse, NY. It was there that Rev VanderHey became involved in the civil rights movement. He and a group of ministers joined Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the Selma to Montgomery march. From there, he was the minister at the First Baptist Church in Fall River, MA, where he became very involved with the community in a struggling city in the 1970’s. In 1978, he was called to serve as the pastor at the First Baptist Church in Red Bank, NJ, for 20 years. He organized an annual Christmas dinner for those in need and served on the Board of Directors of the local YMCA, as well as many ministries. During this time, he was a guest preacher at the Tabernacle in Martha’s Vineyard, where he preached to President Bill Clinton. He was even quoted in the next State of the Union Address. He completed his professional career (although he never stopped being a minister until the day he died) in Sanibel, FL, where he was an assistant pastor of the Sanibel Community Church. He and Barbara thoroughly enjoyed living on the island for 14 years, and were involved with FISH, the Kiwanis Club, the Rotary Club, and volunteered in the LOGAS children’s program at the Sanibel Community Church. They relocated to the Shell Point retirement community in Fort Myers, FL, in 2010. He was there for all the big events in people’s lives. He dedicated babies, baptized people of all ages, and performed wedding ceremonies and funerals. He and Barbara loved to travel. He was always up for an adventure, so he organized kayaking trips, bus trips, cruises, and trips as far away as the Holy Land, Europe, and Egypt. They’ve traveled to 6 continents. He usually brought a group of people with them and acted as the tour guide. He and Barbara loved their 4 daughters (Linda, Karyn, Sally, and Nancy) and 1 son (Jim) and cherished their grandchildren. At first, the boys kept coming. At one point, they had 10 grandsons (Shawn, Eric, Tom, Paul, Kevin, Zachary, Tyler, Mitchell, Derek, Matthew)! Eventually, a granddaughter(Jillian) came into the mix. They have been blessed with 4 great grandsons (Riley, Brian, Declan, and Grant) and 3 great granddaughters (Leah, Molly, and Bexley). They organized a Cousins Camp every summer that included all kinds of fun activities and also provided religious education. Ed was a director of a family camp in Maine for one week every summer, which many of his children and grandchildren would attend. Every summer, he would find the time to preach at some of his kids’ churches, such as churches in Meredith, NH, and at Mirror Lake on Lake Winnipesaukee. Edward was a huge sports fan, as well as an athlete himself. He loved the game of baseball and was a professional umpire for many years. He played for many adult softball leagues, as well. He took up skiing later in life, so he could learn right alongside his kids. In his 7O’s, he skied in Lake Tahoe with some family members. He took up tennis and racquetball in his 40’s and excelled in both sports, often winning tournaments. He not only taught people about Christianity, but he lived it. He was the most generous person you could meet. He never turned down a request for help, no matter who it was. The world has lost a guiding light, but his light shines on through the countless people he has touched. Edward was pre-deceased by his brothers, Bill and Ray, and his grandson, Eric James Haskins. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; his children Linda Haskins (Brian), Karyn VanderHey (Pete Richardson), James Edward VanderHey (Donna), Sally Martin (Brooks), and Dr Nancy Samaha (Christopher); his grandchildren Shawn Edward Haskins (Karen), Tom Wimer (Erin), Paul Edward Smithwood (Madison), Kevin Smithwood (Olivia), Zachary Smithwood, Tyler Martin, Mitchell Edward Martin (Megan), Derek Martin, Matthew Samaha (Brooke), Jillian Samaha; and his great- grandchildren Leah, Riley and Brian Haskins; Declan and Molly Wimer; and Bexley and Grant Smithwood. He is also survived by his brother Donald VanderHey (Ginny), his sister Leona Dzierek (Harry), and many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life was held at The Springs Community Room at Shell Point in Ft Myers on March 3. Donations are welcome and much appreciated by the family to be made to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute (450 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215). They can be made online or by check. Please note it’s in memory of Rev. Dr. Edward VanderHey. This institution is near and dear to his heart, as its research saved the life of his daughter.