Dr. Bert De Vries

Dear Aunt Sally, Tara, Tonya, Jenna and Guy. I was so sorry to learn about Burt passing away last March. He was such an interesting person that gave to much to the Calvin College Community. My deepest condolences for your loss. Kindly, Tamsen

I had the pleasure of working with Bert as he helped shape submissions to the Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation in Jordan. His passion for protecting cultural heritage lept off the page and his excitement was infectious. We'll miss him. May he rest in peace.

Thank you for all the wonderful memories all those years back in Amman; we'll always miss you here in Jordan.

Dear de Vries Family and Friends,

Bert was a tremendous persion with a big compassonate heart for people. He kindly invited me out to Umm el-Jimal in 2018 to perform research on the local water system on the site and in the region. He kindly offered to advise my M.Sc. thesis in addition to all his other responsibilities. We spent four weeks in the UJ project house, visiting with local officials and taking trips out archaeological sites.

Bert's tenacity, drive and...

Bert was a rare person who was passionately committed both to his scholarship and to the people whose lives he touched. I knew him as a student at Calvin and was fortunate to spend a ‘dig summer’ at Umm el-Jimal, and then recently reconnected with him and his lovely family. When I first reached out to Bert after many years he immediately remembered exactly where I had worked at the dig site (some 30 years before), and his passion for his work was undiminished, even in “retirement.” In...

He was a great scholar, and we will miss him in Jordan and at Acor..

Sending my heartfelt sympathy and prayers for you, Sally, and your family.
May God's peace be yours as you remember Bert's remarkable efforts and accomplishments as well as his place in your dear family!

It was with great sorrow that we heard of the passing away of Dr. Bert Devries. He was a very good friend and we really enjoyed his company when he travelled to Jordan on archeological digs and excursions, specially to Umm el Jammal, one of his favorite sites.

We send our condolences to his wife Sally, his children and
grandchildren.
May he rest in eternal peace.

Elie and Isabel Halaby
Amman, Jordan