Legacy

Retirement tributesClaudia D. Beversluis Whether provost or professor, Claudia DeVries Beversluis has been a major blessing to Calvin since 1991. Student learning was her highest priority. She sought to spark students’ imaginations to go beyond what currently is, to imagine and embrace what could be as Christ’s agents of renewal. Undergirding all that she does is genuine kindness and the capacity to promote collaboration. CALVIN LEGACY

Michael R. Barbachyn When Michael Barbachyn joined Calvin’s chemistry and biochemistry department in 2012, the perspective he brought from 27 years in industry was recognized as an asset. He’s served as a mentor to countless students and many faculty members. Mike cares about people and shows it with his actions. His calm demeanor, wisdom, and ability to encourage others will be deeply missed.

Kenneth A. Bergwerff Calvin is fortunate to have had Ken Bergwerff as a member of Calvin’s Science Education Group and geology, geography, and environmental studies department since 2001. Master teacher and mentor, tireless worker, supportive colleague, good friend— Ken’s been all these, but as those who’ve worked alongside him will attest, his true greatness flows from his love for and desire to serve God. Susan M. Felch A professor of English at Calvin since 1992, Susan Felch has also been the director of the Calvin Center for Christian Scholarship. She has led many off-campus programs in York, England, and is a renowned scholar of the Renaissance and Reformation.She is skilled at listening, at discerning with kindness the needs of others, at showing what it means to love another as oneself.

Gail Gunst Heffner For 26 years, Gail Heffner connected Calvin to its community. In 1994, she began developing a robust, nationally recognized program in academically based service learning. Since 2004, she has served as Calvin’s director of community engagement, where she co-founded the Plaster Creek Stewards. Gail’s close colleagues describe her with words like intentional, genuine, honest, strong, smart, determined, vulnerable, committed, kind, community-minded, and compassionate.

Michael R. Barbachyn

Kenneth A. Bergwerff

Susan M. Felch

Gail Gunst Heffner

Robert J. Hoeksema Kurt C. Schaefer

Scott H. Vander Linde

Judith M. Vander Woude Robert J. Hoeksema The engineering department describes Robert Hoeksema as the “keeper of the department’s oral history” and its “historical anchor.” He started teaching at Calvin in 1977 and pioneered innovations and curriculum changes throughout the years. His colleagues and students point to his presence: solid, steady, and inclusive with a measured wisdom and quiet confidence—always welcoming and smiling.

William D. Romanowski A professor of communication and scholar, Bill Romanowski has been getting students, colleagues, church audiences, and industry insiders to think about popular culture for 30 years. He’s a tough but passionate teacher who students and colleagues can count on. He has been active in curriculum development his whole career, and he helped develop the film studies concentration in the 1990s and the new master of arts in media and strategic communication.

Kurt C. Schaefer The economics department was blessed to have Kurt Schaefer as a faculty member for 33 years. His teaching is characterized by faithful imagination and winsome technical proficiency. Kurt helped create Calvin’s off-campus program in Hungary and directed the first semester there, and he often partnered with faculty in different departments to teach interdisciplinary courses. Colleagues and students both appreciate Kurt’s pastor’s heart, and he leaves a lasting imprint of thoughtfulness and humor on the Calvin community.

To see a video tribute and read longer profiles, visit calvin.edu/spark

Scott H. Vander Linde For 35 years, Scott Vander Linde taught economics at Calvin and explained how we all play a role in ensuring the community’s economic, environmental, and social well-being. He helped write From Every Nation, Calvin’s statement on diversity and inclusion, and facilitated discussions about how the university could better include racial and cultural differences in its curriculum and pedagogy. Scott encouraged his students to search “deeply for the principles of life that would help them to see the world differently”—to see it as Christ sees it.

Judith M. Vander Woude In 1994, no one—except perhaps Judy Vander Woude—predicted the small communication disorders program would become what it is today, a thriving multidegree speech pathology and audiology department. As an innovative leader, Judy worked tirelessly to establish a reputable program. Judy taught from her heart. She challenged her students to think deeply about how their work might heal what is broken in this world. She dared to try new things in the classroom; her vulnerability and courage were a model for many.

Mark Williams In his 33 years with the classics department, Mark Williams has taught almost every course in the classics curriculum. He served as the department chair, academic dean, and other impactful leadership roles at the university. Through the years, he maintained a productive life of scholarship. Mark is known not only for his expertise but for his wit, hospitality, and genuine care for students.

NEW ENDOWMENT STRENGTHENS GERMAN PROGRAM

James ’58 and Mary Jane ’62 Lamse loved the German language—and they spent over 30 years cultivating a love of German in Calvin students. Through their lives and gifts they made a profound impact at Calvin. Now, through a generous gift from their estate, that legacy will live on for years to come.

The Lamse estate has funded a new endowment for the German program. Annual earnings from the endowment will fund cultural exchanges, student travel, scholarships for majors and minors, faculty research, and more.

“This generous gift comes at a very timely moment, as international travel and study abroad will look radically different in coming years,” said Corey Roberts, head of the German program and former student of James Lamse. “As we look to create enhanced abroad opportunities for the future, this gift will also support new program development and help us in efforts to keep these kinds of experiences available and accessible to our students,” he said.

SHARING THE LOVE OF GERMAN

The names of James and Mary Jane Lamse are synonymous with Calvin’s German language program. After both graduating from Calvin, James returned to Calvin’s campus as a faculty member in 1969. He spent the next 31 years educating and fostering the love of the German language and culture.

In addition to teaching the language itself, James spent decades building both the German interim abroad and a summer work exchange program, which offered robust cultural exchange experiences between Calvin students and students in Germany. He led numerous interim groups and managed the details of nearly 300 exchanges, ensuring that things went smoothly in both countries. In recognition of James’ efforts to promote German American cross-cultural understanding, the German government awarded him the German Merit Cross.

James’ work was not done in isolation. Mary Jane, also a PhD in Germanic languages and literature, was a trusted partner and provided behind-the-scenes support to the exchange program. Mary Jane also led interim and taught German classes at Calvin, as well as worked as a translator, writer, and editor for the Amway Corp.

The Lamses were married for 55 years and have three surviving children: Elizabeth, Paul, and David. James died in 2014 and Mary Jane passed in September 2019.

FUNDING THE ENDOWMENT

Prior to their passing, the Lamses thoughtfully created an estate plan that provided gifts to ensure future Calvin students and faculty could continue to learn and explore the German culture. Within the past year, the Lamse German Studies Endowment was established and funded by their estate to fulfil the Lamses’ legacy wishes. Roberts, his colleagues in the German program, the academic dean, and Calvin’s development office worked in conjunction to craft the specifics of the new endowment.

Like many Calvin supporters, the Lamses recognized the opportunity to leave a legacy in their estate plan. After making provisions for loved ones, they allocated a portion of their final estate as a cash gift to support the continuation of their life’s work. When James passed in 2014, Mary Jane made the decision to also include Calvin as one of the beneficiaries on an IRA to support their legacy wishes.

LEAVE A LEGACY AT CALVIN Taxable estate assets, such as IRA funds, can be given to Calvin tax-free, thereby preserving dollars for a deeper impact in the lives of students and faculty. Using IRA funds for gifts also allows the estate to pass more tax-wise assets to heirs for their benefit. Although it is important to ensure an entire estate plan works in conjunction with its various parts, IRA beneficiary gifts can be created quickly, easily, and without expense by contacting the IRA custodian.

If you have questions or would like to know more about how to leave a legacy at Calvin with gifts of assets, please contact Calvin’s Office of Gift Planning at 616-526-8719 or by emailing plannedgiving@calvin.edu.