Thomas B. Vanderbeek ’76

The following is an expanded version of a memorial from the Sept. 14, 2016, issue.

Tom died Feb. 28, 2016, in Suffern, N.Y. He was 60.

Born and raised in New City, N.Y., he graduated from Clarkstown (N.Y.) High School before matriculating at Princeton with the Class of 1977. He majored in civil engineering and graduated with a bachelor’s of science degree in engineering in three years. Tom ran the Student Bicycle Repair Agency and was an all-American in lacrosse. He roomed with Allan Seidel ’77, and Greg Warsaw ’77.

In his Nassau Herald page essay, Tom wrote, “From lacrosse to parking squad, engineers to roommates, pubbers to partiers — I hope you had as good a time as I did. If I leave with only one thought, it’s the knowledge that people, not buildings and books, make this university.”

After graduation, Tom returned home and began his career as an engineer, specializing in water resources and land-development with the firm Lawler, Matusky & Skelly Engineers, where he worked for 25 years. In his early years, he traveled all over the country working on projects. Later on, he concentrated on the northeast region, taking the lead role in multiple Rockland County municipal projects. In 2011, he opened his own firm, Thomas Vanderbeek, P.E. Tom was a well known and respected engineer, professionally and civically active throughout the Hudson Valley. He married Betty MacKenzie in 1991 and raised two daughters then welcomed two granddaughters. Tom particularly enjoyed watching his daughters’ athletic events.

Ever an enthusiastic alumnus, Tom served for many years as an interviewer with the Princeton alumni schools committee. For his 25th reunion essay, Tom wrote with pleasure about his sense of civic engagement, “I would like to think that I have made the world a little better place with volunteer and charity work in several organizations. I take some pride in being a founding director of the Lower Hudson Valley Challenger Center, a space science education center for children of our area, and being a driving force in raising over $1.5 million to build this facility. I’ve had the opportunity to affect the lives of thousands of children every year.”

The class officers extend deepest sympathy to his wife, Betty; daughters Zandrina and Alexxa; parents Dorothy and John; brother Tim; sisters Heidi Perrow, Holly Cook, and Wendy Vanderbeek; two granddaughters; and extended family.

Tom was memorialized March 19 at a service held in All Souls Community Church, in Suffern, N.Y. Tom will be remembered at the formal Princeton alumni service of remembrance planned for 3 p.m. Feb. 25, 2017 in the University Chapel.

The Princeton Class of 1976 holds in honor and affection the name of Thomas B. Vanderbeek.