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 industriousness were invigorating for all those around him. We spun ideas about Umm el-Jimal's water supply and how the ancient reservoirs on the site could be used for modern purpose. For Bert, everything was possible, one just had to make a plan and discuss things with the right people.

Relationships with people and the environment played a central role for Bert. May his legacy be trajected peacefully in all corners of the earth for generations to come.

My deepest condolences to his family and all those, who were touched by his life - especially the village of Umm el-Jimal and Calvin College.

You will be missed Bert! It was an honor to know you.

Your friend,

Kyle

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 addition to loving the history of Jordan, he loved its people. He wanted them to have a sense of ownership about their history. The Umm el Jimal site is not walled off like so many archaeology projects, but is a place for Jordanians to immerse themselves in their history. Bert also cared deeply for Syrian refugees and could share their sense of dislocation because of his experiences in his native Holland during World War II. My admiration for Bert has grown over the years, and I send condolences to his family. He left the world a much better place for having been here. What a beautiful difference his life made.

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

We were saddened to hear of Bert's passing. Bert did important work and was highly valued by all who knew him. Our deepest sympathies to Sally and the family, and our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Phyllis and Ron Vander Molen

I am so sorry to hear of Dr. De Vries' passing. Bert and Sally De Vries were old family friends. I met them in Amman, Jordan before I even came to Calvin College. They were the first ones to welcome me to Grand Rapids. Jim and I send our deepest condolences and are praying for the family.

Sally and family,

I am so sorry for your loss. Bert was a wise, intelligent, thoughtful man of integrity and compassion. He was a peacemaker who understood the human condition, cared about people who suffered, took action, and created change. He was an educator who taught me through his words and actions in our organization, Healing Children of Conflict, and taught his students in the classroom, at educational events, and in his field work as an archeologist in Jordan. I also knew he was a great teacher because I heard it directly from his students, some of whom, because of our mutual connection with Bert, I now call my friends. Through his work in HCC he helped to educate others about the effect of our nation’s actions on people in other areas of the world and made a significant difference in the life of Hamzah.

I’m deeply saddened by Bert’s passing, but thankful I had the chance to get to know and learn from him. It’s appropriate that the last time I saw Bert was earlier in the year at Schuler Books. We shared a passion for learning.

You are in my thoughts. Take care.

Warmly,
Chris

Bert was one of the very best people I knew. He was kind, wise, and he taught me so much about humanity. I was proud to consider him a friend. The world is much better for having him in it; he will be missed by countless people.

Praying for comfort and strength for family and friends who were close to Bert. We are grateful for the years that he served with CRWRC (now World Renew) and his on-going legacy of serving in ways that strengthened community and promoted justice. Blessings and prayers,
Ida Kaastra-Mutoigo, World Renew Director - Canada

Our deepest condolences to the devries family it was a shock for us as yours . Bert will never be forgotten he was our idol the world lost a great man who always spread love and peace his legacy will always live through all of us

What a surprise, and What Loss for Calvin Church.
Our sympathy to Sally and the entire family (world-wide)
This quiet unassuming man will be long remembered by us all.
W.B. Hecker - Calvin CRC