Paul Vander Hoek

PAUL VANDER HOEK HELPED BELLEVUE

GROW FROM VILLAGE TO MAJOR CITY

Often referred to as the “Mayor of Main Street”, Paul T. Vander Hoek played a pioneering role in Bellevue’s growth from isolated village to major city. He died April 21 at age 94. When his father built a home near Factoria in the 1930’s, Vander Hoek recalled that it took him almost all day to get there from Ballard. The trip included a streetcar to downtown Seattle, cable car to Leschi and ferry to Medina, followed by a 10-mile hike. Proud of his Dutch and Swedish heritage, Paul was born in Elk, Washington, grew up in Spokane and moved to Ballard as a teenager. Several of his family were members of the Salvation Army and Paul played in their band while in high school. His life-long work ethic was formed during the Depression when he worked in logging, millwork sales and for the Army Corps of Engineers. Vander Hoek’s father started Eastside Glass Company in 1945, which Paul joined a year later and soon took over. Located on Main Street in the heart of Old Bellevue, the store grew during the next four decades and spawned today’s Vander Hoek Corporation which operates a number of businesses. Vander Hoek’s wife Reda, their three sons and now fourth-generation family members have all played roles in the company’s growth. An important part of the firm’s mission is dedicated to Old Bellevue’s vitality and success.Vander Hoek was a founder and past president of both the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce and the Bellevue Downtown Development Board (now the Bellevue Downtown Association). For much of his career, he was one of Bellevue’s most involved citizen participants in city planning. He cared deeply about his community and was seldom shy about expressing his views. While not always successful in gaining agreement, he engendered broad respect for his passion and diligence.A man of many interests and talents, Paul was a mentor, gardener, orchardist, golfer, fisherman, bird hunter, rock collector and mushroom aficionado. He had been an active member in many civic and social groups. True to his blue-collar roots, he was a low-key, humble man who was as comfortable talking with the janitor at City Hall as the Mayor. He quietly helped countless people in their time of need without seeking any credit for himself. Paul and Reda were married for 70 years before her death in 2007. They had three sons, Ted (Kathy), Lance (Deborah) and Stu (Karen); eight grandchildren, Bryan (Tammy) and Jason (April), Kirsten Patterson (Gary), Pieter, Carl, Anna Flora (Jason), Samantha Jerome (Jay) and Katherine Deets (Dan); and eight great-grandchildren. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his grandson Kyle and two brothers. A celebration of his life will be held at 3pm on May 4 at Saint Luke’s Lutheran Church, 3030 Bellevue Way NE in Bellevue. In lieu of flowers, donations in Paul’s memory may be made to the Eastside Heritage Center, Box 40535, Bellevue 98015 or the Salvation Army, 1101 Pike Street, Seattle 98101.

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