Industry Veteran Hank Vanderveen Passes Away

Industry Veteran Hank Vanderveen Passes Away

Hank Vanderveen (right) was presented with the Ralph Macchio Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016 by COLE Publishing founder Bob Kendall.

Hendrik “Hank” Vanderveen, a nearly 50-year veteran on the manufacturing side of the liquid waste industry and 2016 winner of the Ralph Macchio Lifetime Achievement Award from COLE Publishing, passed away Nov. 10. He was 83 years old.

Vanderveen had been employed as national vacuum tank product manager at Amthor International since 2007. Previously he worked for Lely Mfg., Rovac Pump & Supply and Jay’s Waste.

Vanderveen was known far and wide as one of the wastewater industry’s nicest guys, according to COLE founder Bob Kendall. And he was a fixture at the Pumper & Cleaner Expo, now the WWETT Show, for generations.

“Everyone liked Hank. He was one of those guys you just enjoyed seeing,” Kendall said. “Always with a friendly smile, something nice to say and a willingness to help in any way. His attitude toward the industry was the same, lending his knowledge and experience to help solve problems.”

Vanderveen, of Wilson, North Carolina, is survived by his wife, Cheri Ridall Vanderveen, five children, 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be planned at a future date.



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