Willard A. Van Engel

Gone but not forgotten! Smooth sailing Van!!

Coincidentally, I was just thinking of Van this week. How nice to have this pop up now! He was such a bright spot in my life. Cheers to others of you who knew him. Stay safe and have a nice holiday with him in your thoughts.

Van had been a loyal and dedicated volunteer for the Gloucester-Matthews Free Clinic from the beginning. He was willing to do anything needed, including occasionally taking work home. We had many philosophical discussions and I enjoyed his many stories of his early VIMS work. I also remember his homemade pear chutney that he brought me every Christmas. Always a supporter of his community, contributor to scientific inquiry, helpful to all, and a true gentleman.

Van was a true friend, a kind gentleman and a scholar.His life was well-lived and this was readily recognized by all who knew him. With deepest sympathy, Marilyn Loesch and family.

I remember when Dr. Van Engel came to the Virginia Fisheries Lab-- a fresh minted PhD from Wisconsin-- getting on the train in Madison and coming all the way to a small unknown lab in Yorktown VA, sight unseen! It was either innocence or a desire to see salt water! A wonderful asset to seafoood in Virginia and the world !

(I am daughter of Dr Davis, founder of VIMS)

Mr. Van Engel was joy to everyone that he came into contact with. He will be sorely missed.

Tammi Dempsey, Gloucester Medical Associates

Van was the first Virginia Institute of Marine Science professor I met when applying for graduate school in 1976. He later became an advisor for my thesis research on the effects of Kepone on blue crab larval development. He was an inspiration to me and so many others in the field of marine science. He was truely one of a kind in his field of study.

My deepest sympathy to Mr. Van Engel's family. As a volunteer driver, I took Van to a number of doctor's appointments over the past few years and it was always such a pleasure to listen to his stories - especially concerning his work with VIMS. He was a brilliant man and sincerely nice person.

Dear friends,
Mr. Van Engel's passing saddens everyone who knew him. He was a good friend of my father's for many years. Mr. Van Engel loved horses and the outdoors, especially the waterways of our state. He championed marine science at a time in the 1940's and 50's when few others did. - Zack Loesch