Posted on 12/07/2004 9:31:09 PM PST by Salvation
Jay Van Andel, co-founder of Amway, dies at 80
Company and community mourn loss of leader and philanthropist
Jay Van Andel, co-founder of Amway Corp., died Tuesday, December 7, 2004, at his home in Ada, Mich. He was 80. He was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Betty, who passed away at their Caribbean home on Peter Island on January 18, 2004.
He is survived by his sons Steve (Cindy) and David (Carol), and daughters Nan and Barb (Rick) Van Andel-Gaby. Van Andel is also survived by 10 grandchildren: Leigh, Jesse, Aaron, Kyle, Christian, Marie, Rachel, Jason, Nathan, and Samuel.
Van Andel was best known for his strong belief in the power of personal initiative and free enterprise to change people’s lives. With his partner, Rich DeVos, Van Andel created Amway Corp. a leading direct selling business that allowed individuals to gain skills and income with a modest investment.
“Jay was the solid rock upon which our company was built and the best business partner a person could have,” said Amway co-founder Rich DeVos of his friend. “With his passing, America loses one of its brightest lights, our company loses a beloved leader and I lose my best friend.”
Van Andel and DeVos first dreamed of owning their own business when they were students at Grand Rapids Christian High School. Their friendship grew out of a business arrangement — DeVos paid Van Andel 25-cents a week for a ride to and from school.
The two friends founded Amway in their basements in 1959 with an all-purpose cleaner, L.O.C., as their only product. After the first year of business, they moved to an abandoned service station located at the current headquarters site in Ada, Michigan. Over four decades, they built their business into a multi-billion dollar international corporation and one of the world’s largest direct selling companies.
In October 2000, Amway became one of three subsidiaries under a new parent company, Alticor, along with two sister companies: Quixtar Inc., a Web-based business in North America and Access Business Group LLC., a manufacturing and logistics provider to Amway, Quixtar and other companies.
Van Andel was succeeded as Amway’s Chairman in 1995 by his son, Steve, who today manages daily operations of Alticor Inc. with President Doug DeVos, Rich DeVos’s son. Van Andel remained active with the company as a prominent member of Alticor’s Board of Directors until his death.
A Legacy of Philanthropy
Van Andel’s philanthropic endeavors were driven by his strong faith. In his autobiography, “An Enterprising Life,” he talked about the “responsibility of wealth.” He said, “For me, the greatest pleasure comes not from the endless acquisition of material things, but from creating wealth and giving it away. The task of every person on earth is to use everything he’s given to the ultimate glory of God.” Van Andel supported numerous arts, cultural and educational institutions in his hometown of Grand Rapids, Mich., through the Jay and Betty Van Andel Foundation.
His major philanthropic effort was the establishment of the multi-million-dollar Van Andel Institute, one of the world’s pre-eminent biomedical research facilities, in Grand Rapids. In launching the Institute, Van Andel said: “I can think of no better way to touch the lives of people than to support medical research that extends human life and reduces pain and suffering, God helping us.”
Van Andel was a driving force behind the renewal of downtown Grand Rapids, beginning with the purchase of the Pantlind Hotel in 1979, which later became the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. His commitment and financial support of $11.5 million were instrumental in building the sports and entertainment facility that bears his family’s name, Van Andel Arena. He was the leader and major contributor of the funding for the Van Andel Museum Center of the Grand Rapids Public Museum. Van Andel also was founding chairman of the Right Place Committee, formed in 1980 to create and retain business and employment in Grand Rapids.
He also was a strong supporter of education, providing financial gifts to Grand Valley State University, in Allendale, Mich., Hope College, in Holland, Mich., and the Van Andel Education Institute, in Grand Rapids. In the area of health care, Jay and Betty were major supporters of the Pine Rest Christian Hospital, on whose board Betty served for many years.
A man of deep religious faith, Van Andel supported Christian institutions and education, serving in leadership positions on the Ada Christian School Board, Grand Rapids Christian School Development Council, Grand Rapids Association of Christian Schools Fund Drive and LaGrave Christian Reformed Church. He received the Business and Professional Leader of the Year Award and the Great Living American Award from Religious Heritage of America.
Awards and Achievements
Van Andel was recognized with many distinguished awards, including the Dennis W. Sheeham Award, Edison Award from the American Marketing Association, the Adam Smith Free Enterprise Award from the American Legislative Exchange Council, the Clare Boothe Luce Award from the Heritage Foundation, the George Washington Honor Medal from the Freedoms Foundation, the Patron Award from the Michigan Foundation for the Arts, and the 1990 Business Person of the Year from the Economic Club of Grand Rapids. He was inducted into the Direct Selling Association Hall of Fame, the Junior Achievement National Business Hall of Fame, the Sales and Marketing Executives International Academy of Achievement, and the Greater Grand Rapids Business Hall of Fame. He was a member of the MENSA Society of the US.
Van Andel wrote an autobiography in 1998 entitled An Enterprising Life, recounting his life and partnership with Rich DeVos in creating and guiding Amway Corp. The book appeared on the Wall Street Journal’s best seller list for business books for 11 weeks. It sold more than 60,000 copies and has been translated into seven languages.
He was the recipient of five honorary degrees, including a doctorate of science from Michigan State University. He also received the Calvin College Distinguished Alumni Award.
Leadership Positions
Van Andel held a number of offices in both national and local associations. In addition to his role as Chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 1979 and 1980, Van Andel was appointed by President George H.W. Bush as U.S. Ambassador and Commissioner General of the International Specialized Exposition in Genoa, Italy. In 1982, he was Chairman of the Netherlands American Bicentennial Commission. He also held offices as chairman of the Michigan Republican Finance Committee and was a director of the Gerald R. Ford Foundation. In the Grand Rapids area, Van Andel served as director of the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, Michigan National Bank, Ferguson Hospital, the John Ball Zoological Society, Metropolitan YMCA, and the World Affairs Council.
About Jay Van Andel
Van Andel was born June 3, 1924, in Grand Rapids, graduated from Grand Rapids Christian High School, attended Calvin College in Grand Rapids; Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa; Pratt Business School in Kansas; and Yale University Aviation Cadet School in New Haven, Connecticut. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a first lieutenant from 1942 to 1945. He married the former Betty Hoekstra of Grand Rapids in 1952. About Alticor
Alticor (www.alticor.com) is the parent company of Amway Corp., Quixtar Inc. and Access Business Group LLC. Headquartered in Ada, Mich., USA, Alticor and its affiliates offer products, business opportunities, and manufacturing and logistics services in more than 80 countries and territories worldwide. In its most recent fiscal year, the company reported worldwide sales of $6.2 billion. For further information, please contact Alticor’s media information line at 616.787.7565 or e-mail Alticor’s media relations staff at mediainfo@alticor.com.
Free enterprise ping for all business men and women!
Thanks, Amway distributors!
Will he be buried with his downline?
He and Rich DeVos sold vitamins door to door when they first started. Why are you so sarcastic?
If you visit Grand Rapids, Michigan you can see all the money he and his wife gave away -- concert hall, refurbished hotel -- very generous. Your remark is uncalled for.
Van Andel was a driving force behind the renewal of downtown Grand Rapids, beginning with the purchase of the Pantlind Hotel in 1979, which later became the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. His commitment and financial support of $11.5 million were instrumental in building the sports and entertainment facility that bears his family’s name, Van Andel Arena. He was the leader and major contributor of the funding for the Van Andel Museum Center of the Grand Rapids Public Museum. Van Andel also was founding chairman of the Right Place Committee, formed in 1980 to create and retain business and employment in Grand Rapids.
Those of us in the Grand Rapids area can only be thankful for the money VanAndel and DeVos have given to this area. World class research center, entertainment facility, hotel, convention center, etc. have really improved the quality of life and economy. They have always been huge supporters of the Republican party as well.
A little defensive, huh. How's sales?
He sells an idea to folks who then sell the idea to folks who sell the idea......
More dough in it than Scientology, though.
VanAndel and DeVos are two of the greatest Republicans around.
Karl Rove patterned the neighborhood home parties after the former Amway model.
Both work very well -- the election parties as well as the entrepeneurs who undertake owning their own business.
Most people who make snide remarks about this business really don't know what it's about -- people helping people.
Thanks for posting this!
The L. Ron Hubbard of Free Enterprise.
Oh, no, now it'll be "Operation Get C.C."
Flame away, true believers, but Amway is a cult. JMHO.
I was in Amway a couple of times and decided it just wasn't for me. Still, Jay and Rich are two men I respect tremendously. May Jay rest in peace and may God comfort his children and the DeVos family.
Well if you can also imagine the thousands of people ripped off by Scamway you might have another viewpoint.
Amway is evil. I pray for his soul.
Well put, imho.
This is sad on so many multi-levels.
So.....I'm supposed to cry? Only if he put me in his will!
On of them lives in my town and owns a couple of big houses, nice cars, etc, etc, and helps coach the local HS football team. I don't know what he's worth, but he's got 5 or 6 kids and doesn't have a job. Nice guy, too. I also am savvy enough to know that there's no such thing as something for nothing. I'm sure he had to work his guts out to get what he has.
I own a publication business that has the potential to give me the kind of ROI that this acquaintance of mine has. I also know that in order for me to succeed I'll have to continue to work my guts out for a number of more years.
I doubt those posters who are running down the business started by Van Andel really understand what Free Enterprise is all about. The Amway business may not be for me, but I admire anyone who makes it that big (like Mary Kay or Bill Gates or Sam Walton). You can't run a successful business for 40 years and make 100's of millions of $$$ by selling crap. If it was a scam or a cult like some people are claiming it would have folded long ago.
My belief is that the only business that truly succeeds is the hard work business. I think Mr V.Andel put together something that people willing to work hard at could also succeed at.
I admire him for his success and the success he helped create for others. The naysayers here strike me as those who maybe failed as distributors of Amway goods and have an ax to grind.
They're building a giant pyramid for him.
The naysayers are those who know what a scam Amway is by looking simply following it's history. Amway made millionaires of those who were able to convince people that they could sell products more effectively than the existing global distribution system. My aunt's husband joined this cult and once tried to sell me a suit at a Christmas party. It looked like something that the Sear's separates department wouldn't sell.
The wealth of the upline and Van Andel, was built on selling tapes/books/seminars to people, not on product sales. The number of Amway victims is far greater than the number of millionaires. And actually, you can run a successful business for years selling crap - because what you are really selling is a temporary salve for your distributors insecurity and desire to have some control over their lives. And design the system so that it skirts the letter of the pyramid scheme prohibitions in federal and state laws, then you've got something.
Good luck with your business. You're right about one thing, though. Hard work gets you most of the way there. The rest is actually luck/fate.
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