(Vander) Lende, Jeff (2022)

Jeff (Vander) Lende is a 1969 graduate of East Christian High School who excelled in basketball and tennis. His senior year he was awarded the Panther Award which honored the school’s best all-around athlete. 

In tennis, Jeff played #1 singles and was named the team's MVP his sophomore and junior years.  Jeff remembers playing summertime tennis doubles with his father, Dirk, against their neighbors, Bob Hendrickson and Ken Zandee. Little did he know these two high school basketball coaches, from Ottawa Hills and Central Christian, would play a significant role in his years as a Panther.  

Jeff’s basketball career was filled with exciting games.  In 1968 and 1969 the Ottawa Hills basketball team won back-to-back Class A state championships. However, during the regular-season City League contests, East Christian beat Ottawa Hills three out of four times. The playing venue was moved to Calvin College to accommodate the heightened interest in the rivalry. “Those were special games,” Jeff recalled. 

Another exciting game was played during the 1969 Regional Finals, when East Christian faced its biggest rival, Central Christian.  The contest was a see-saw event with the lead changing many times.  Key players fouled out and the game went into overtime. An East Christian player stole the ball to gain possession with seconds remaining.  Coach Cornie Bykerk called a time out, instructing the team to get the ball to Jeff for the last shot. However, that didn't go quite as planned.  As time expired, a teammate took a “Hail Mary” shot, the ball caromed off the rim, and Jeff tipped it in. East Christian won the contest by two points. Jeff scored 18 points in the last 14 minutes of regulation and all 6 team points in the overtime.  

Jeff, a 6’7” forward, was named to the All-City and All-Area Basketball teams his junior and senior years. He was also named team MVP and a member of the Class B All-State team as a senior.  Additionally, he was an honorable mention Scholastic All-American. In 1969 Jeff was the recipient of the Dan Nameth Sportsmanship Award, an award given by the West Michigan Officials Association for outstanding athletic accomplishment and sportsmanship. In 1999 Jeff was honored as one of the top 50 basketball players in the history of the Grand Rapids City League.

With over 30 college scholarships offered, Jeff chose to play basketball at Michigan State University. He played two seasons before transferring to Grand Valley State University, where he made the All-NAIA District 13 team and All-Area Collegiate Dream Team in 1973.  Five years later he was invited to a tryout for Team Parker Leiden in the Netherlands. He made the team and played for a short time in Europe, touring Austria, France, Spain, Germany, and Sweden.

Jeff received a BA in Health Sciences and a MS in Education.  He credits his high school teacher, Leroy Stegink, for instilling a passion for social justice and leading him to a career in teaching.  Jeff taught elementary education in the Grand Rapids Public School District for over 31 years.  His last ten years of teaching was at Blandford Environmental School. 

Jeff is a talented woodworker and is enjoying retirement with his wife, Carol.

Jeff’s Favorite Scripture: Job 12:7-10
But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky,
and they will tell you, or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
or let the fish in the sea inform you.
Which of these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?
In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.