Martin Pete Vandermey
August 22, 1949 ~ July 28, 2010
Martin "Pete" Vandermey, age 60, passed away July 28th, 2010, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Pete was born Martinus van der Mey on August 22, 1949 in The Hague, Holland. In 1959 he immigrated to the United States with his mother, Yvonne, who married a United States Army Sergeant, Vernard E. Jones, and they settled in North Carolina. Growing up, Pete lived in various military housing quarters including Ramstein, Germany and Las Cruces, New Mexico. He attended Robert G. Cole High School on Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, where he graduated in 1967.
Pete joined the United States Navy in 1969. He served during the Viet Nam War on active duty submarine service aboard the U.S.S. Flying Fish. After leaving the Navy, Pete continued in the Air Force Reserve Unit in San Antonio, Texas, completing his twenty-one year, six month, 8 day service to the United States Military.
Pete graduated from Park University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science. He worked for the United States government in civil service as a software engineer at Cryptologic Systems Group on Security Hill at Lackland AFB until the time of his retirement in October 2009.
Pete is preceded in death by his father, Martinus Joseph van der Mey and mother, Yvonne Marie Gollner van der Mey Jones. Pete is survived by his wife, Jenna Scott Vandermey; children, Holly Elaine Vandermey Ouellette and Amber Lynn Vandermey; son-in-law Amos Ouellette; grandchildren Megan Ouellette and Mia Ouellette; sisters and brothers Marianne van der Mey, Lau van der Mey, Martin van der Mey, and Monique Jones Thompson; nieces and nephews in The Netherlands and the U.S.A.; extended family, and many, many friends.
Pete had a very competitive spirit and loved to run, bike, and swim. He ranked in the top of his age groups from age 35 until the Spring of 2010 at age 60. He achieved many awards and won many triathlons, duathlons, cycling events, and races up to marathon distances. He was invited to and competed in many National and World Championships in his sports. He was well loved by the running and biking communities in San Antonio and will be dearly missed by his friends at McAllister Park. Pete crossed the finish line of the biggest and most important event of his life with dignity and in peace. Some of his last words were, "I love you."
Pete will be remembered for his wonderful sense of humor, his winning smile, and his genuine love for his family and friends. He encouraged those around him and offered friendly advice to help us reach our goals. His strength and courage touched all that knew him and he will be remembered fondly to many as "Superman".
A celebration of Pete's life will also be held on August 5th, around 6 p.m. at Soler's Tri Sports, 14405 Old Bandera Road, Helotes, Texas 78023.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Lustgarten Foundation, 1111 Stewart Avenue, Bethpage, NY 11714 (www.lustgarten.org) or, if you are willing, you may join or donate to 'Team Vandermey' for the PurpleStride San Antonio (http://tiny.cc/kbgop).
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Quick wit and winning smile indeed. I am honored to have known him.
Deepest sympathy, prayers, and heart go out to you and Pete’s family during this difficult time. May your memories bring you peace and laughter in the future.
warm and engaging to everyone, giving, talented, and hard fighter. many virtues for all to aspire to.
What a great guy! He will be missed.
Pete was an incredible individual, he was honest, open, forthright and just fun to be around. His toughness and athletic abilities were so well balanced with Jenna. Sadly, he will be missed by all who knew him but, graciously he is at peace.
Pete will be missed by all who have know him as I can readily attest. He was a superior athlete,great companion and a man who simply loved life and lived it to the fullest. He will not be forgotten.
Pete ran the Turkey Trot at McAllister Park last year. At the end, he told me it was harder than any marathon that he had ever run. Yet there he was, giving it everything he had. That summarizes Pete – he always gave everything he had to give, to his career, to his family, to his sports, to his friends.
As so many will attest to, Pete was an inspiration to us all; his memory will live on in all of us, it was an honor to have met him on this journey through life.
Pete ran the good race, had many friends and family members and was always there for you when you needed him. Heaven has received another winner. Peggy
Pete was a fighter and as tough mentally as they come, a class act. He will be missed.
Pete was a blessing to everyone he met. He was an amazing person and will be truly missed.
My deepest sympathies, last time I talked to Pete was at the Zoo run told me he was in remission and we talk about the the races of the years before. Pete was in a league of his own, I told him there no way I could catch up to him. We ran in the same age bracket. He was a blessing in my life snd I still remember his smile and laugh.
My deepest sympathies, last time I talked to Pete was at the Zoo run told me he was in remission and we talk about the the races of the years before. Pete was in a league of his own, I told him there no way I could catch up to him. We ran in the same age bracket. He was a blessing in my life snd I still remember his smile and laugh.
Pete and I go back to 1981 as fellow age group runners. He was a friend and a fine athlete. He was a strong runner, biker and swimmer. Most of all a great guy and fun to talk with. Although I retired and moved away 9 years ago,I last saw Pete in Feb. of 2009. While fighting cancer he was upbeat and positive. While sad by his passing, I’m thinking of the fun times at all of the runs in SA and the great running community of which Pete was a part. So long friend and in Pete’s memory I will run an extra mile and reflect and remember Pete’s great smile. Mike Henderson Steilacoom, Wash
My condolences to the family and friends of Pete Vandermey. I had the good fortune of meeting Pete on November 7th, 2009 at PurpleStride San Antonio. His upbeat demeanor and shining personality gave no indication of the internal battle he was waging against pancreatic cancer. You fought the good fight, Pete, and in your memory we will certainly continue that fight!
Although we have not seen Pete in many years, we will always cherish the good times we had together. I first met Pete on the racketball court in 1982. Later we were in several bowling leagues together. I still miss all the fun we had. For all the family we send you our deepest sympathy. God Bless—Neal and Marion Carmickle
We are sorry to hear and offer prayers and thoughts to all. Doris was in Pete’s class and I was the year before. God’s many blessings and peace to Jenna and all the family.
I will always remember Pete’s smile and positive attitude. He was and will remain an inspiration for so many people. He will be missed.
Pete was a wonderful man. It was a privilege to have know him. My condolences to his family.
We will all miss Pete. He was a fighter and a winner. Heartfelt condolences to Jenna and all of Pete’s loved ones.
Dear Vandermey Family: Please accept my deepest sympathies on the loss of your beloved. There are never any right words to express how deeply sad I am for the pain your family is enduring at this difficult time. Although I did not have the honor and pleasure of knowing him, as Chair of the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs and Military Installations, I am sincerely thankful for his valiant service in defense of our rights and freedom. His commitment to family, friends, our community, and to serving our great nation leaves a wonderful legacy. May the love and the wonderful memories you shared with him help you when you need it most. He will never be forgotten, and your family will be remembered in my prayers.
My Condolences to the Vandermey Family It was a privilege and honor to have worked with Pete for several years at Kelly AFB. He was a brilliant man, always with his patented smile and always with an optimistic can-do attitude. I will forever cherish memories of my long talks with him. Running was his passion and I attended several of his marathons for support. Pete was always a winner and I know that in his final run he was first at the finish line. I will miss you Pete.
Our Condolences to Jenna, and Family.Pete will be Missed by Everyone.He was a FIGHTER, and a GOOD FRIEND.We will keep you all,in our prayers Diana&Pete Hernandez
My condolences to all of Pete’s family. Pete and I go back to the 433D days when we were reservists. He will be missed because he definately gave me encouragement in being competitive in whatever I do. My prayers to all who have had the pleasure to meet such a fine individual.
I got to ride Pete’s wheel many times, and that alone was hard, and a few times I got to pull for him. How fitting. Pete will be missed greatly, but never forgotten. Wish Jenna and the family peace and strength.
I loved Pete dearly. He was my son-in-law for 25 years, is Holly & Amber’s Dad. He was the dearest ‘son’ anyone could have. He will be greatly missed by Jenna, his girls and his entire family. He was well-loved by all, fair, had a great sense of humor, and now he is ‘at peace.’ With love, Donna, Grandma, GG
My deepest sympathy for the loss of your dearly beloved one. We yearn for the day when sickness is no more.Isaiah chapter 33 verse 24. We yearn to see our dear loved ones again. Jesus promised, the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out John chapter 5 verses 28, 29.
Jenna, our thoughts are with you in this very trying time. Pete was loved by so many people. We just wish that we could have known him for a longer period of time. Please accept our condolences. Sandy and Bob Knight
God Speed Pete. Cole HS Class of 1967.