Thomas L. van der Voort Jr. ’87

Tom died in a bike accident Oct. 28, 2023. He was competing in a 42-mile race through the Shenandoah Valley.

Tom grew up in Alexandria, Va., the son of Tom Sr. ’57 and Elizabeth. He attended Fort Hunt High School and received an ROTC scholarship. A history major, Tom rowed crew, DJed at WPRB, and was Colonial’s house manager. At UNC, he earned a master’s degree and met his wife, Joan Horn. They married in 1991.

Advertising fit Tom’s creativity. If your children begged for Fruit by the Foot or Lucky Charms, blame Tom. He started Rowdy, a media company for NASCAR fans. Tom hosted a show as his alter ego, Bass Masters, building a fan base, the “Rowdy Nation.” Most recently, he was at the Darden School of Business.

Tom was always training for a new sport. He played ice hockey, ran marathons and triathlons, and golfed and swam with his brothers-in-law. He loved the Washington Capitals. Tom and his mother amassed a significant library of history, classics, philosophy, and literature.

Many grieve Tom, including Joan, his daughters Arrietta and Adelina, his mother, his sisters Leah MacFarlane ’88 and Rachel van der Voort ’93, and his extended family.