Sandra Van Dyk

Cambridge, NY-Sandra (Whitehead) Van Dyk, 84, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, November 14, 2023. 

Sandy was born on November 9, 1939, in Goshen, NY, to Edwin Whitehead and Janice (Van Riper) Combee. 

Education was very important to Sandy.  At age 40, she returned to higher education and received her Bachelor's from Ramapo University, her MBA from SUNY University at Albany, and her Ph.D. from Temple University.  She was a professor for many years at Malcolm King College, NY, Felician College, NJ, and Bloomfield College, NJ.  Her desire was always to mentor and have relationships with her students. She had a heart for the underprivileged and wanted to make education accessible to all.  

Sandy’s passion for ministry was lifelong. Most recently, she attended Coila Church in Cambridge, NY, and actively participated in their mission field. She was also on the Board of Directors for Bethany Christian Services, an adoption agency, as adoption was close to her heart. In the mid-1980s, she joined the African Inland Mission (AIM), which was dedicated to helping the people of Africa. Recently, she helped with programming in the Mathare Valley in Nairobi, Kenya. She supported a daycare and various support groups for men, women, and children. Sandy had recently returned from her last trip to Africa in September and had already purchased a ticket for a trip back for January 2024. 

Sandy had various creative passions. She loved reading and purchasing books for her loved ones. She was an artist and fostered that love in her grandchildren through art museum visits, art supply trips, and art workshop days in her at-home art studio that she maintained for family use. She also loved to write. Pages of poetry, manuscripts, and letters line the drawers of her house.  In addition, she enjoyed restoring and decorating older homes. Most recently, she was fascinated with tiny homes and imagined living in one of her own with German Shepherds and a donkey. She was always planning another project!

Sandy loved living in the country and instilled that love into her children and grandchildren. There are many wonderful memories with her, including camping and swimming at Lake George and vacations in Hebron, NY, on the farm with all the animals. She hosted many visitors from New Jersey at the farm and participated in various community events, particularly at the West Hebron Presbyterian Church.

She is survived by her children: Wendy Van Dyk, Susan (Stephen) Aalderink, Jonathan (Eileen) Van Dyk, and Matthew Van Dyk (Tiffany Hald). She is survived by her grandchildren: Kayleigh (Kurt) Gensheimer, Samantha (Ryan) Dykstra; Anthony, Daniel, and Emily Van Dyk; Julia, Lilah, and Sadie Aalderink; Violet Van Dyk and Lily Lloyd.  She is also survived by her great-grandchildren: Madeline and Wyatt Gensheimer; Samuel, Theodore, Eliza, and Josephine Dykstra. Sandy is survived by her brother, Edwin (Patricia) Whitehead.  

SERVICES: A celebration of her life will be held at 4:00 pm on Wednesday, December 27^th,2023 at Coila Church in Cambridge, NY. Family and friends are invited to attend.

Those who wish to contribute in Sandy’s memory can send a check to Coila Church, 93 State Route 372, Cambridge, NY 12816.  Please write “Mission Opportunities” in the memo.