VANDERWEIDE, GILBERT Gilbert VanDerWeide passed away on September 26, 2012 at home in Grand Rapids, after a nine month hard fought battle with cancer. He was born on December 3, 1959, in Grand Rapids, MI and lived most of his adult life in New York City and Minneapolis. He will be lovingly remembered and greatly missed by his family, friends and colleagues who adored him. He is survived by his parents Benjamin VanDerWeide, Jr. (Patricia) and Connie Rutkowski; his siblings Lisa Fraser (Jeff) and Benjamin VanDerWeide, III (Lavonne); and his nieces and nephews Nicholas, Alexandra and Bryce Fraser and Sophia, Hailey and Lauren VanDerWeide. Gilbert is a graduate of Grandville High School. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Parson’s School of Design, NYC in 1983. He has worked in retail visual merchandising since his graduation with his most recent position held for the last seven years as Creative, Art & Visual Director for Aveda Corporation. His paintings have been on display in art galleries in NYC and Grand Rapids. His creative mind and passion for art have been a true inspiration to all those around him. “A business idea is only a business idea until a creative mind makes it exist in the eyes and hearts of others….True creative minds are rare, and even more so, those you can always trust entirely because of their infallible taste….Aveda was lucky to work with Gilbert, one of those rare species,” a tribute by Dominique Conseil, President of Aveda Corporation. Above all, Gilbert will be remembered for his love of people and his wicked sense of humor. A Celebration of Life will be held at 12:30 pm on Thursday, October 11th at Frederick Meijer Gardens, Hauenstein Room. Memorial donations in Gilbert’s memory may be directed to Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 4065 Saladin Dr., Grand Rapids, MI 49546
