John A. Vanderpoel

John Arent Vanderpoel, age 89 of Concord, passed away in his sleep at his residence on February 23, 2008.�He was the husband of Joan (Waterhouse) Vanderpoel.

Born in New York City on March 25, 1918, he was raised and educated in Litchfield, Connecticut. He was a graduate of the Taft School in Watertown, Connecticut, and then earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1940.�

Mr. Vanderpoel joined the U.S. Army Air Corp as a cadet, became Cadet Captain, earned his wings, and was commissioned on September 26, 1941.�The following day he married Joan Waterhouse of Lowell, Massachusetts.�Mr. Vanderpoel served in the Pacific theater as the commanding officer of the 424th Bomb Squadron which flew B-24s.�He was also the class secretary and driving force in his Army Air Force flying school class - 41G.�This group was comprised of approximately 800 new aviators who graduated from flying schools at 8 bases around the United States.�Through his efforts class 41G has been the most active class in history and still boasts 80 active members.

He retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1967 and partnered with Bob Hall, a wheelchair athlete, to form a company which manufactures wheelchairs for a variety of sports.�"Hall's Wheels" produced more than a chair a day for many years.�He also restored and rode numerous highwheel bikes and even earlier boneshakers. He participated in many century rides (100 miles) within the United States and England.�During his active riding career he logged over 200,000 miles on his road bike and rode across the country by himself several times.

In addition to his wife of 66 years Colonel Vanderpoel is survived his son, Eric Vanderpoel II, of Alexandria, Virginia. He is also survived by his four grandchildren, Aaron Vanderpoel, Ellen Robie, Eric Vanderpoel III, and Bayley Watkins Vanderpoel, as well as a great-grandchild, Calvin Arent Robie. His son, John A Vanderpoel Jr., died in 2002.�