Grafton – Ken Vanderhoef, patriot, entrepreneur, patriarch, died weeks from his 85th birthday at Samaritan Hospital in Troy, NY, on December 4, 2014, surrounded by his family.
Ken was born to Sanford and Harriet Vanderhoef in Port Schuyler, NY, and graduated from Watervliet High. His athletic talents and notorious curve and knuckleballs led him to minor and major league baseball teams, including several local semi-pro teams, and big league ventures as a pitcher. His country called him away from sports, and he served in the U.S. Navy, traveling above the Arctic Circle during the Korean War on the U.S.S. Atka.
As an entrepreneur and loving family man, Ken started a successful contracting business – Vans Electric, a family endeavor, still run by his eldest sons after 45 years.
A beloved member of his Grafton, NY, community, he devoted 18 years running the Youth Commission, was a founding patron of Friends of Grafton Lakes State Park and a volunteer in the Fire Department. He was a key member in the Carner-Etman-Smith VFW Post #6340 of Grafton, serving in many roles, including Commander, constructing a permanent Post and designing the local Veterans Memorial.
A creative man, Ken’s hobbies included painting, woodworking and carving. He loved traveling, boating on Lake Champlain, cross country skiing and was a huge sports fan, especially of his children’s games.
Ken is survived by Connie, his loving wife of over 60 years, two brothers, William and Charles, four children, Ken and wife Tina, Scott and wife Audrey, Valerie and husband Greg and Don and wife Jyll, eight grandchildren, Kevin, Kelly, Wayne, Jason, Joseph, Bryan, Brittani and Brendan, as well as great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews. He is pre-deceased by a sister, Sandra.
A memorial service celebrating Ken’s amazing life will be held at Our Lady of the Snow Church, 31 Owen Road, Grafton, on Saturday, December 13, at 10 am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the VFW Post #6340, P.O. Box 361, Grafton, NY, 12082, or Our Lady of the Snow Church, P.O. Box234, Grafton, NY. 12082.