Edward Jay Vander Velde Jr.

Edward Jay Vander Velde Jr., born July 1, 1937 (shortly after midnight) in Royal Oak, Michigan to Edward J. and Priscilla A. (Mead) Vander Velde. Edward is survived by his beloved and devoted wife of 57 years M. Jade (Miller) Vander Velde; seven siblings, Lawrence (Kathy Cornell), Michael (Laurie Gilberg), Thomas (Patricia Byrne), Maude Jouppi (John), David (Mary Vaughan), Juliana Mason (Mike), Kathleen MacDermaid (Matt); son Timothy, grandchildren Madeline, E.J., Roman; great aunt Patricia Vander Velde Benson; and beloved nieces, nephews and cousins. He was a loving and devoted son, grandson, brother, brother-in-law, husband, father, grandfather, cousin, uncle, nephew, and friend. He will forever be remembered for his love of family, the water, golf, popcorn, ice cream, cats (especially his frequent companion I.Q.), Dire Straits, YoYo-Ma, and all the hugs, smiles, love, and support he offered to those he loved.

Ed was a University of Michigan Man (BA, MA, PhD) “GO BLUE!” through and through. He was a devoted life long fan of the Wolverines, the university’s wonderful libraries, and the Rackham Graduate School. Ed touched the lives of a wide variety of people during his many years of working and living overseas; from South & Southeast Asia, East Africa, finally making his way back to Grand Rapids, Michigan.

No matter where life took him he always found his way back to his love of academics and scholarship. This passion was reflected in the 20 plus years devoted to being a Professor of Geography at various higher educational institutions including, Michigan State University, University of NY Binghamton, Northeast Hill University (Fulbright Professor in Shillong, Meghalaya, India), University of Nairobi (Kenya), and Aquinas College (Grand Rapids). In addition to serving as a mentor to potential U of M students, Ed served as a member of both the Grand Rapids U of M Alumni Scholarship Committee and the Grand Rapids Federation of University of Michigan Alumnae Clubs.

After a full teaching career Ed dove into his love for water by becoming an irrigation specialist, which allowed him to travel and live in many interesting places around the world. He and Jade spent eight years in Lahore, Pakistan working with the International Irrigation Management Institute and a year in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Afterwards, Ed became an irrigation consultant to the World Bank, as well as to the governments of Guyana, Armenia, Indonesia, Japan, Viet Nam, Cambodia, and the Philippines.

Edward was preceded in death by his grandparents Albertus W. and Hendrika J. (Blaquiere) Vander Velde, and Earl and Jeanette Maude (Cooper) Mead; parents Edward Jay and Priscilla A. Vander Velde; aunts Lily Joan Vander Velde Jones, Alma Vander Velde, and Lucia Vander Velde Wilford; uncle Henry Vander Velde; and first cousins Peter Wilford and Marjory Lynn Vander Velde McEwen.

If you are interested in making a donation to Ed's favorite U of M scholarship, in his memory, it can be sent to:

Grand Rapids Community Foundation

Attn: Grand Rapids U of M Alumnae Trust

185 Oakes Street SW

Grand Rapids, MI 49503

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