Obituaries
GVSU Mourns the Loss of Richard M. DeVos
September 06, 2018
Richard M. DeVos, one of Grand Valley State University’s greatest leaders, passed away at the age of 92 on September 6, 2018.
DeVos' support for GVSU dates back to its foundation in the 1960s, when he would visit classrooms and share his personal experiences with students. He served on the Board of Control for Grand Valley in the 1970s, moving on as a member of the GVSU Board of Trustees, before leading the Grand Valley University Foundation for 24 years. President Haas noted that our university "would not be what it is today without his vision, leadership, and generosity."
As a special tribute to Richard DeVos and his support for GVSU, the carillon towers on both campuses will have a blue “Laker Light’ that will last through the funeral. The GVSU flag will be at half-staff for the next two weeks to honor Mr. DeVos. Watch the Grand Valley website for more details on the memorial and funeral arrangements as they become available. Our thoughts and prayers are with the DeVos family at this time.
Read more about DeVos' impact on Grand Valley here.