HJ892: Celebrating the life of Thomas Vander Woude.
WHEREAS, Thomas Vander Woude, a devoted father, died on September 8, 2008, while saving his son’s life; and
WHEREAS, on September 8, 2008, Thomas Vander Woude was working in his yard with his youngest son, 20-year-old Joseph, who has Down’s syndrome, when Joseph fell through the septic tank cover into the septic tank; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Vander Woude tried to pull Joseph out of the tank but realizing that he could not, he leapt into the tank himself while a workman at the house told Thomas’ wife to call 911; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Vander Woude managed to get underneath his son and push his son’s head above the water while the workman and mother pulled Joseph from above; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Vander Woude was able to keep Joseph’s head above the water so he could continue to breathe until help arrived 15 minutes later; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Vander Woude could not be revived when the paramedics arrived, but his heroic actions saved the life of his son; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Vander Woude’s actions that day were a reflection of how he lived his life as a dedicated and hard-working father; and
WHEREAS, a devoted family man, Thomas Vander Woude and his loving wife Mary Ellen together raised seven sons; he enjoyed spending time with each one of them; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Vander Woude was actively involved in his sons’ lives, coaching all of them in basketball through elementary school, high school, and college; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Vander Woude, a Vietnam War veteran, proudly served his country in the United States Navy for 17 years and went on to work as a commercial airline pilot for 26 years; and
WHEREAS, from 2002 to 2007, Thomas Vander Woude was the athletic director/coach at Christendom College in Front Royal, and he served as a sacristan at Holy Trinity Catholic Parish since 2001; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the passing of a dedicated father and outstanding Virginian, Thomas Vander Woude; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Thomas Vander Woude as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.
Patrons-- Marshall, R.G., Abbitt, Albo, Alexander, Amundson, Armstrong, Athey, BaCote, Barlow, Bell, Bouchard, Bowling, Brink, Bulova, Byron, Caputo, Carrico, Cline, Cole, Cosgrove, Cox, Crockett-Stark, Dance, Ebbin, Eisenberg, Englin, Fralin, Frederick, Gear, Gilbert, Griffith, Hall, Hamilton, Hargrove, Herring, Howell, A.T., Howell, W.J., Hugo, Hull, Iaquinto, Ingram, Janis, Joannou, Johnson, Jones, Kilgore, Knight, Landes, Lewis, Lingamfelter, Lohr, Loupassi, Marsden, Marshall, D.W., Massie, Mathieson, May, McClellan, McQuinn, Melvin, Merricks, Miller, J.H., Miller, P.J., Morgan, Morrissey, Nichols, Nixon, Nutter, O'Bannon, Oder, Orrock, Peace, Phillips, Plum, Pogge, Poindexter, Poisson, Pollard, Purkey, Putney, Rust, Saxman, Scott, E.T., Scott, J.M., Shannon, Sherwood, Shuler, Sickles, Spruill, Tata, Toscano, Tyler, Valentine, Vanderhye, Ward, Ware, O., Ware, R.L., Watts and Wright; Senators: Barker, Blevins, Colgan, Cuccinelli, Deeds, Edwards, Hanger, Herring, Houck, Howell, Hurt, Locke, Lucas, Marsh, Martin, McDougle, McEachin, Miller, J.C., Miller, Y.B., Newman, Norment, Northam, Obenshain, Petersen, Puckett, Puller, Quayle, Reynolds, Ruff, Saslaw, Smith, Stolle, Stosch, Stuart, Ticer, Vogel, Wagner, Wampler, Watkins and Whipple
WHEREAS, Thomas Vander Woude, a devoted father, died on September 8, 2008, while saving his son’s life; and
WHEREAS, on September 8, 2008, Thomas Vander Woude was working in his yard with his youngest son, 20-year old Joseph, who has Down’s syndrome, when Joseph fell through the septic tank cover into the septic tank; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Vander Woude tried to pull Joseph out of the tank but realizing that he could not, he leapt into the tank himself while a workman at the house told Thomas’ wife to call 911; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Vander Woude managed to get underneath his son and push his son’s head above the water while the workman and mother pulled Joseph from above; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Vander Woude was able to keep Joseph’s head above the water so he could continue to breath until help arrived 15 minutes later; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Vander Woude could not be revived when the paramedics arrived, but his heroic actions saved the life of his son; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Vander Woude’s actions that day were a reflection of how he lived his life as a dedicated and hard-working father; and
WHEREAS, a devoted family man, Thomas Vander Woude and his loving wife Mary Ellen together raised seven sons; he enjoyed spending time with each one of them; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Vander Woude was actively involved in his son’s lives, coaching all of them in basketball through elementary school, high school, and college; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Vander Woude, a Vietnam War veteran, proudly served his country in the United States Navy for 17 years, and went on to work as a commercial airline pilot for 26 years; and
WHEREAS, from 2002 to 2007, Thomas Vander Woude served as athletic director/coach at Christendom College in Front Royal, and as a sacristan at Holy Trinity Catholic Parish since 2001; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the passing of a dedicated father and outstanding Virginian, Thomas Vander Woude; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Thomas Vander Woude as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.