- BROTHER RICHARD “VAN” VANDERHOEF -

Right Worshipful Brother Richard “Van” Vanderhoef serves our Grand Lodge as the Chairman of the Masonic Service Association (MSA) Field Representatives. In that capacity he oversees the visitations of Masonic Representatives to all of the Veterans Hospitals throughout Illinois.

Brother Vanderhoef took over a very important program of our Grand Lodge that had little or no direction. He has worked tirelessly to make sure that all of our Veterans whether Masons or not are visited and are not lacking in any manner.

His organizational skills and “go get em” attitude have turned this into a fine oiled machine and our veterans are being rewarded because of his efforts. The Masons of Illinois are being represented at each of the Hospitals and at a few of the satellite facilities as well.

Brother Van has spent many hours on the road visiting all of our Representatives and each hospital in addition to raising funds for the MSA Visitation Program. Most Worshipful Brother Richard Fletcher, Executive Director of MSA worldwide has commented that Brother Van goes head and shoulders above what is required and that Illinois Freemasonry has the very best visitation program anywhere because of Van’s efforts.

Brother Van is no slouch when it comes to volunteer work as evidenced by his resume. He has given tirelessly of himself on many occasions and has excelled in each and every one of his endeavors. He has represented our Grand Lodge a manner which should make all Masons in Illinois extremely proud of him and of our program.

R.W. Brother Richard “Van” Vanderhoef was born on 24 October 1942 in Manhattan and lived his first three years in the Bronx, New York. In 1946 the family moved to Brooklyn, N.Y. where he was baptized and confirmed at St. Philips Episcopal Church, Dyker Heights, Brooklyn. He attended Public School #201 and New Utrecht High School.

On his 17th birthday, he visited the Navy Recruiter’s Office and subsequently arrived at Naval Base, Great Lakes, Illinois for basic training. He was then assigned to Service School Command, Great Lakes for additional training as an Instrument Repair Technician, followed with assignment to the USS Nereus (AS-17) at San Diego, CA in its Repair Department for servicing Submarines. He was advanced to Petty Officer 3rd Class in 1961. He was ordered to report to the pre-commissioning crew aboard the USS Hunley (AS-31), under construction at Newport News, VA as the first ship designed and built to service nuclear Polaris Submarines. After sea trials, acceptance and commissioning in June 1962, followed by the turmoil of the “Cuban Missile Crisis” in October, Van was off to bonnie Scotland in January 1963 to service the submarines of Sub-Ron 14 at Holy Loch. He was advanced to Petty Officer 2nd Class in 1963.

During the summer of 1963, he met Anne Turnbull, a bonnie Scottish lass, and married her at Gourock, Scotland in June 1965. Van was then assigned to the USS Bushnell (AS-15) to service Submarines at Key West, Florida. Disaster on board struck when both engine rooms of the Bushnell were destroyed by fire. Van and Anne moved to Charleston, S.C. where Bushnell underwent six months of extensive repair and upgrades to service nuclear Submarines and then back to Key West.

Van and Anne were blessed with the firstborn son (Rick) in May 1967 while Van was at sea. He was advanced to Petty Officer 1st Class in October when he also received orders back to Holy Loch, Scotland aboard USS Simon Lake (AS-33).

Brother Van was initiated as an Entered Apprentice in “Lodge Ardgowan #1425” AF&AM, Inverhip, Ayrshire, Scotland in February 1970, Passed to Fellow Craft March 1970 and Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason in April 1970. He received and entered his “Mark” in May 1970. Van was presented “Life Membership” with an embroidered Apron by the members of Lodge Ardgowan.

Brother Van was then assigned to Service School Command at Great Lakes, IL as an instructor and advanced to Chief Petty Officer in September 1970. Their Second Son (Robert) was born in January 1972 at Naval Hospital, Great Lakes. Brother Van developed the first fully self taught instructional program for a self standing course of instruction in the Navy. He was promoted to Senior Chief Petty Officer in September 1972.

His extensive technical knowledge and experience led to his further assignment to the Naval Examining Center, Great Lakes and on to the new Naval Education Training and Publication Center at Pensacola Fl. Where he developed correspondence courses; training manuals; and advancement examinations for Naval personnel. He was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal for his performance at Service School Command Great Lakes.

While at Pensacola, he was a member of Ensley Lodge # 278, F&AM, Ensley, FL.

In June 1976 he received orders back to the USS Simon Lake (AS-33) with Submarine Squadron 16 at Rota, Spain, as Leading Chief of the Machinery Repair Division. Orders arrived again to the USS Canopus (AS-34) to relieve Simon Lake on site. Senior Chief Van was responsible for the transfer of all Machinery Repair Division and its Site II assets to the relieving ship. He received his second Navy Achievement Medal for his professional performance.

January 1977 Bro. Van officially transferred to the USS Canopus (AS-34) as the Leading Chief & Deputy Machinery Repair Officer with 13 work centers and 150 skilled men. He was one of the first to qualify as the newly created Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialists aboard the 1,400 man ship. Bro. Van also became the senior member of the Officer of The Deck qualification board, Radiation Casualty Team, Duty Repair Officer making on the spot decisions for repair to main propulsion and auxiliary submarine systems in addition to numerous positions of trust and authority. FBM-Site II was deactivated as the treaty with Spain expired and Sub-Base Rota closed. He was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal in recognition of his performance aboard USS Canopus (AS-34) and Submarine Squadron 16, Rota.

Van was ordered back to Service School Command at Great Lakes where he became the course director for Instrumentmen and advanced to Master Chief Petty Officer and became Director of both Opticalmen and Instrumentmen schools.. 1979 saw the creation of the Integrated Training Brigade at Great Lakes, Illinois to couple enhanced military and technical training into one program. Master Chief Vanderhoef was then assigned as the first Bureau of Naval Personnel Command Master Chief at Service Schools Command, Great Lakes with the concurrent position of Brigade Adjutant within the I.T.B. which had a onboard daily census of nearly 10,000 military staff and student personnel with training taking place in three shifts, twenty four hours per day. Master Chief Vanderhoef transferred to the Fleet Reserve in July 1986 and was awarded his second Navy Commendation Medal (NCM) for his performance as Command Master Chief / Brigade Adjutant. He fully retired on October 24th, 1989.

Command Master Chief Vanderhoef’s awards include:

      - Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS) insignia
      - Navy Commendation Medal, 2 awards
      - Navy Achievement Medal, 2 awards
      - Navy Good Conduct Medal, 6 awards
      - National Defense Service Medal
      - Meritorious Unit Citation Ribbon
      - Naval Unit Commendation Ribbon
      - Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (10 stars)
      - Battle Efficiency “E” Ribbon, 3 awards
      - and others……

Upon transfer to civilian life, R.W. Brother Van became a real estate broker and owner of American Heritage Real Estate, Inc. (now retired).

R.W. Brother Van was elected and served as a Trustee of The Village of Beach Park, IL.

R.W. Brother Van’s Masonic record includes:

      - Waukegan Lodge #78, AF&AM Waukegan, IL
      - Grand Lodge of Illinois,
      - Grand Representative – Scotland (Current)
      - Masonic Service Association Field Agent / Committee Chairman (Current)
      - Masonic Service Association – N.A., State Coordinator, Illinois
      - A.O. Fay Lodge #676, AF&AM Highland Park, IL (past S.W.) (membership withdrawn)
      - Grand Chapter, R.A.M., Illinois
      - Grand Representative – Scotland (Current)
      - Waukegan Chapter #41, RAM, E.H.P. 2001 and 2008
      - Lake Council #121, R.& S.M. T.I.M. Chartered T.I.M.
      - Bethel Commandry #36
      - Royal Order of Scotland, Provincial Grand Lodge of the U.A. of America
      - Edwin M Lambert Council #319, A.M.D., Senior Deacon (Current)
      - Lake Michigan Council #289, Lake County, IL (past President & past Sect/Tres.)
      - Illinois Lodge or Research
      - Council of Rites
      - Medinah Temple AAONMS