Dr. Gordon Van Wylen of Holland, who served as Hope College’s ninth president from 1972 until retiring in 1987 and was also actively involved in the Holland community both during and following his time at Hope, died on Thursday, Nov. 5, after a determined fight with COVID-19. He was 100.

  • Portrait of Dr. Gordon Van Wylen, former president of Hope College, wearing glasses and a suit with a tie, against a dark, muted background.
  • A group of people, including Dr. Gordon Van Wylen, sitting in a living room with bright lights and filming equipment. Dr. Van Wylen is seated in the center wearing a suit and tie. The room is busy with activity as a person in the foreground holds a clapperboard, and another operates a camera.
  • Black and white photo of Dr. Gordon Van Wylen, former president of Hope College, standing in the center surrounded by family members outside a building. He is wearing a suit and tie, and smiling. His wife, also smiling, is standing next to him wearing glasses and a light-colored jacket with a flower pinned to it. Other family members, including children and a woman holding a toddler, are standing around them, all smiling at the camera.
  • Black and white photo of Dr. Gordon Van Wylen, wearing a coat and tie, standing outdoors with a group of people. A young woman next to him is writing in a notebook, and another person stands beside her, both wearing glasses.
  • Dr. Gordon Van Wylen and a woman stand amidst a pile of debris; he is holding a broom and looking down, while she carries papers and a bag.
  • A man in a suit and tie stands outside a building on a snowy day as three people with cameras take his picture. Another person walks in the background.
  • Black and white photo of a smiling man in a suit and tie, with short hair, looking to his left at a smiling woman who is playfully placing a hat on his head. The woman has long hair and is wearing a sweater over a collared shirt.
  • Dr. Gordon Van Wylen, wearing academic regalia, seated and holding a document during a formal event.
  • Dr. Gordon Van Wylen places a crown on a smiling woman's head during an outdoor event. The woman holds a bouquet of roses. Both are dressed in formal attire.
  • Two men in academic regalia stand outside. One man holds an open diploma folder, and both are looking at the camera. Trees and a building are visible in the background.
  • Two men in suits are standing side by side, looking off into the distance. The man on the left is wearing glasses and a bow tie, while the man on the right has his arms crossed. They appear to be in a formal setting, with a framed portrait visible on the wall behind them.
  • Dr. Gordon Van Wylen, dressed in a light-colored suit and polka dot tie, smiles and converses with two other individuals, a man in a striped shirt and tie holding a clipboard, and a woman in glasses and a patterned dress, against a backdrop of vintage posters.
  • Two men wearing chef hats and aprons are smiling and cooking together in a kitchen, with one holding a carving fork and knife over a large piece of meat.
  • Dr. Gordon Van Wylen, the ninth president of Hope College, speaking at a podium.
  • A group of five men standing in front of a tent at an outdoor event, with several people in the background. The men are dressed in 1970s attire, including trench coats and suits. They appear to be engaged in a ceremonial activity, with two of the men holding a shovel.
  • Black and white photo of three people in suits standing in an office setting. They are holding a wooden chair with a painted scene on the backrest. Two framed portraits are visible on the wall behind them.
  • Three men in suits, including Dr. Gordon Van Wylen, holding a large trophy with various athletic figures and an eagle on top. They are standing against a brick wall.
  • Two men are examining a building cornerstone labeled "1902." One man, wearing a cap and glasses, has his arm inside a cavity in the cornerstone, while the other man, dressed in a light jacket and tie, looks on attentively.
  • Dr. Gordon Van Wylen and Margaret Van Wylen, the Grand Marshals, ride in a convertible during a parade, with Gordon holding a bouquet of tulips and Margaret waving to the crowd.
  • Black and white photo of Dr. Gordon Van Wylen and several other individuals in academic regalia standing in front of the Gordon and Margaret Van Wylen Library at Hope College. They appear to be participating in a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
  • Dr. Gordon Van Wylen speaks at a podium in a formal room, addressing an audience. Behind him, three men sit at a table reviewing documents, with a scale model of a building complex in front of them. The room features chandeliers, framed portraits on the walls, and a projection screen.
  • Dr. Gordon Van Wylen, wearing a suit and glasses, speaks at a microphone in front of a seated audience, who are smiling and engaging with him. The event is held outdoors under a pavilion, with trees and greenery visible in the background.
  • A black and white photo of an elderly man and woman sitting at a table, smiling. The man is wearing a light-colored polo shirt, and the woman is wearing a blouse with a dark collar. They appear to be in a porch area with windows and trees visible in the background.
  • Three men in suits stand beside a sign for the Charles R. Sligh Jr. Center for Economics and Business Administration at Hope College. The man in the center is Dr. Gordon Van Wylen, who served as Hope College’s ninth president.
  • Black and white photo of Dr. Gordon Van Wylen, in academic regalia, accepting a framed document from another man in academic regalia during a ceremony.
  • A man wearing a white apron and chef's hat is pouring coffee for a smiling woman sitting at a cafeteria table with trays of food in front of her.
  • An elderly man in a suit sits at a desk with papers and a book in his hands, smiling at the camera. The room is lit by a desk lamp, and there are documents pinned to the wall behind him.
  • Black and white photo of Dr. Gordon Van Wylen standing outdoors beside a tree on Hope College’s campus, with a large stone building and leafy trees in the background. He is wearing a suit and tie, and has his arms crossed, smiling at the camera.
  • Dr. Gordon Van Wylen standing beside a podium with the seal of the Vice President of the United States, speaking with a man while a woman claps in the background.
  • Three people dressed in formal attire stand side by side indoors, in front of a window with blinds and potted plants.
  • Black and white photo of three people standing together outdoors, wearing formal attire. The person on the left is an older woman with glasses and a light-colored coat. The person in the center is an older man in academic regalia. The person on the right is a younger woman in a graduation gown, smiling and holding a diploma. There are people and trees in the background.
  • A man and a woman standing next to yellow construction equipment. The man is seated inside the driver’s seat of the machine, while the woman stands beside him, holding onto the side rail. Both are dressed in light-colored coats. The background includes a red excavator and a building wall.
  • Dr. Gordon Van Wylen, wearing a dark suit, smiles while being interviewed by a reporter holding an ABC 13 microphone. A woman in a light blue coat stands beside him, and a cameraman in a blue jacket films the interview. A truck and a person in the background are visible.
  • Dr. Gordon Van Wylen stands with two other individuals next to a table displaying an architectural model and a rendering of the proposed Hope College library, with a construction site in the background. The table is covered with a cloth that reads "Hope College."
  • A black and white photo of Dr. Gordon Van Wylen and three others in academic regalia, smiling and celebrating at a ribbon-cutting ceremony outside a building. Dr. Van Wylen, who served as Hope College’s ninth president, is seen holding a piece of ribbon in the air.
  • Four people stand outside in front of a building with large windows. A plaque on an easel reads, "The Van Andel Plaza. This plaza has been made possible through the generosity of Jay and Betty Van Andel. August 17, 1990." The individuals are dressed formally, with the women wearing dresses and the men in suits.
  • Dr. Gordon Van Wylen and his wife stand together smiling in front of a cake at a gathering in an indoor setting. There are balloons and flowers decorating the table with the cake, and several people are visible in the background.
  • Dr. Gordon Van Wylen, wearing academic regalia, adjusts the tassel on a student's graduation cap during a commencement ceremony at Hope College. Two other faculty members in regalia look on, smiling.
  • An elderly couple is posing together indoors, with the woman standing and the man sitting. The woman is wearing a long-sleeved dress with a belt and a necklace, and the man is dressed in a suit and tie. They are in front of a bookshelf filled with books.
  • An elderly man in academic regalia, including a graduation cap and gown, sits on a folding chair on a grassy field, reading a document. The surrounding chairs are empty.
  • Dr. Gordon Van Wylen, in academic regalia, shaking hands with a graduating student at a Hope College commencement ceremony. A podium with the Hope College seal is in the foreground, and other attendees and graduates are visible in the background.
  • A group of people, including Dr. Gordon Van Wylen, sitting on bleachers outdoors on a sunny day. Dr. Van Wylen is wearing a green jacket and is positioned in the center of the group, smiling and engaging with others around him. The background shows trees, a fence, and power lines.
  • Dr. Gordon Van Wylen, dressed in a blue jacket and tie, shakes hands with another man while a woman stands between them, smiling. The image is taken outdoors with a crowd and band members in the background.
  • Dr. Gordon Van Wylen, wearing a brown suit and patterned tie, sits at a desk with bookshelves in the background.
  • Dr. Gordon Van Wylen, former president of Hope College, sitting at a table with his hands clasped. He is wearing a grey suit with a patterned tie and a wristwatch, with abstract artwork in the background.
  • Dr. Gordon Van Wylen stands at a podium, speaking into a microphone, with another man smiling in the background.
  • Dr. Gordon Van Wylen stands at a podium giving a speech during a graduation ceremony at Hope College. He is surrounded by faculty members seated on the stage, and graduates in caps and gowns are visible in the foreground. The Hope College seal is displayed on the front of the podium.
  • Dr. Gordon Van Wylen, wearing academic regalia, smiles while holding a diploma folder and standing with other individuals in graduation attire. A vintage car and a blooming tree are visible in the background.
  • Dr. Gordon Van Wylen and a woman smiling and waving while sitting in a vintage car during a parade or community event in Holland, MI. The background shows other people walking and cars parked along the street.
  • A group of six people, including Dr. Gordon Van Wylen, seated around a wooden table in a room with floral wallpaper, engaged in discussion. Various documents are spread out on the table.
  • Dr. Gordon Van Wylen, wearing a blue suit and striped tie, stands among a crowd at an outdoor event. He is surrounded by people, including a woman in a red "Hope" sweatshirt, a young man in a brown checked jacket, and a woman in a plaid coat. The crowd appears engaged and attentive.
  • Dr. Gordon Van Wylen, former president of Hope College, seated and smiling while wearing a suit and tie.
  • Three men in academic regalia, including caps and gowns, smiling and posing with a diploma.
  • Dr. Gordon Van Wylen, wearing a light gray suit and striped tie, sits on a white railing with the Hope College campus in the background.
  • A large gathering of people sitting on the grass at an outdoor event. In the foreground, an elderly man and woman are sitting on a blanket, with the man reclining and the woman sitting upright, both appearing relaxed. Behind them, many younger individuals, possibly college students, are seated closely together, some eating and chatting. Trees and a building are visible in the background.
  • Dr. Gordon Van Wylen shaking hands with a man outside the Maas Center, with four people standing in a line behind him.
  • Dr. Gordon Van Wylen stands at a microphone on an outdoor stage, flanked by a young man holding a framed item and an older woman holding flowers. A drum set and other musical equipment are visible in the background, with trees and a building in the distance.
  • Three men stand outside a building at Hope College. The man on the left is speaking at a podium with the Hope College seal, the man in the center wears a plaid suit, and the man on the right is dressed in academic regalia holding papers.
  • A group of people sit and stand in a room with framed portraits on the walls. A man speaks at a podium with a sign that reads "The Campaign for Hope" and a drawing of a building next to him. Several people take notes at a table, while two camera operators film the event. A chandelier hangs from the ceiling.
  • Dr. Gordon Van Wylen speaks at a podium adorned with the Hope College seal, wearing academic regalia and a yellow hood, with trees and people in the background.
  • Six individuals wearing academic regalia stand in front of Vander Werf Hall at Hope College.
  • Dr. Gordon Van Wylen, dressed in academic regalia, shaking hands with a woman on stage during an outdoor ceremony at Hope College. Another man in academic attire stands beside them, adjusting her hood.
  • Dr. Gordon Van Wylen, wearing a beige trench coat and plaid cap, smiles and converses with three men in jackets and hats on a grassy field with blurred figures and trees in the background.
  • Dr. Gordon Van Wylen, former president of Hope College, sitting at a desk and holding a book, with papers and a lamp in the background.
  • Dr. Gordon Van Wylen stands at a podium, delivering a speech in front of vibrant stained glass windows. He is wearing a suit and tie, with a microphone attached to his ear. There are orange flowers and greenery in the foreground.
  • Dr. Gordon Van Wylen, an elderly man in a wheelchair, holds his eyeglasses and smiles at the camera while sitting next to a younger man in a blue suit and striped tie, who has his arm around Dr. Van Wylen's shoulder. They are in a room with a wall-mounted TV and a desk in the background.
  • Dr. Gordon Van Wylen, seated left, with three other men at a formal event.
  • Dr. Gordon Van Wylen, wearing an orange sweater, smiles while standing next to the Hope College mascot, who is holding a basketball. They are indoors with a brick wall and a banner in the background.
  • Dr. Gordon Van Wylen, seated in a wheelchair and wearing an orange sweater, waves to a crowd during a ceremony at a Hope College basketball game. A man in a suit and tie holds a microphone, while another person in an orange shirt claps. The crowd in the background is cheering.

Related News

  2. Campus Life

    Break Day Photo Gallery

    Students were invited to hang out on campus on Wednesday, Sept. 16 for the first scheduled break day of the semester. It was a fun day to meet new friends, play games, relax and enjoy campus life, while still playing it safe.

  3. Campus Life

    Our Take: Hope committed to safe in-person start

    Holland Sentinel

    The college has created a comprehensive, three-component testing plan specifically tailored to the Hope community and informed by the expertise of public health officials and our own faculty and staff.