Former Christendom College Athletic Director Tom Vander Woude heroically sacrificed his life to save his son, Josie, in 2008 — an act that has continued to inspire people across the globe. Now, his cause for sainthood is being investigated, bringing his incredible story of love, of sacrifice, and of “doing the right thing” back to the forefront. This is his story, as published in the latest issue of Instaurare.
Eleven-thirty a.m. Mass in Christ the King Chapel was just getting out in September of 2008 when word quickly spread across Christendom College’s campus: Coach Tom Vander Woude was gone. In one final, selfless act, the man who had spent his life raising others up, both on the basketball court and off, had given his life to save his son.
Nearly two decades after his death, the memory of the college’s former athletic director still echoes in the Christendom gym where he once spent so much of his time — in the way players huddle for prayer before games, in the sign above the gym entrance, in the quiet reverence of those who knew him.
Now, the college’s home Diocese of Arlington has begun the consideration process of opening up Vander Woude’s cause for canonization, the first step toward formally recognizing what his family and community have long believed: that Tom Vander Woude lived—and died—with saintlike virtue.
A COACH AND MENTOR TO ALL
Vander Woude’s friends and family all describe him the same way: as a humble, gentle, joyful, and hardworking man who gave a tremendous example of sacrificial love throughout his life —not only to his family but to those he touched through his coaching and professional life as well.
This story comes from the latest issue of Instaurare Magazine, the official magazine of Christendom College. Read more from Instaurare here!
“He was a tremendous leader and guardian of our family,” says Chris Vander Woude, the fifth of Tom’s seven sons.
“He did this first and foremost by leading the family towards Christ through frequent reception of the sacraments, generously giving of himself for his family, and exercising tremendous virtue day in and day out, especially in the quiet, hidden areas like temperance and courage. In many ways, he was a tremendous example of what true Catholic manhood should be, dedicated to always giving of himself, especially when it came to leading his family towards Christ and protecting and helping those that needed help.”
A Vietnam War veteran, Vander Woude began coaching out of love for his sons. When asked to lead his son’s soccer team at Seton School in Manassas, Virginia, he accepted the challenge—even though he knew nothing about the sport.
Tom coaching the men’s basketball team at Christendom College.
In addition to soccer, he also volunteered as Seton’s basketball coach, all while managing a demanding career as a commercial airline pilot and maintaining a small farm. Together with his wife, he raised a large and active family, with five of his sons going on to attend Christendom College.
After retiring from US Airways in 2002, Tom followed in their footsteps, continuing his lifelong dedication to youth and athletics by becoming Christendom’s athletic director.
As a coach and mentor at Christendom, Vander Woude touched so many lives, most especially the student-athletes he came into direct contact with on a daily basis. He would often say a simple phrase, but one that resonated deeply with students: “just do the right thing.”
His gentle demeanor, which was always ready to help and to listen, allowed many young people to grow into men and women of virtue through both his authentic example and wise counsel.
“As a coach, he showed to all that interacted with him how ‘sports properly directed’ can and should be developed and fostered with character based on the virtues. I think Dad was, for many young men especially, the most influential man in their life besides their own fathers,” says Chris.
That desire to always help those who most needed it would find its fullest expression on that fateful September morning in 2008.
“YOU PULL, I’LL PUSH”
When his youngest son, Joseph (Josie), who has Down syndrome, fell into a septic tank on the Vander Woude family farm on September 8, 2008, Vander Woude did not hesitate. Without a thought for himself, he jumped in to save him— lifting Josie above the surface while his own lungs filled with toxic gases. He called out to a farmhand who was trying to pull Josie out.
“You pull, I’ll push,” he said.
By the time rescuers finally pulled them out of the almost 7-foot-deep tank, Josie was still alive. Vander Woude, however, was dead at the age of 66, leaving behind his wife, his seven sons, and a legacy of heroic virtue that continues to move, to inspire, and to raise up others to this day.
Tom with his son, Josie.
It was this legacy of heroic virtue that inspired a group of Catholics to begin working with the Diocese of Arlington to open his cause for sainthood.
THE CANONIZATION CAUSE
The recently founded Tom Vander Woude Guild is hard at work, sharing Vander Woude’s story across the country. Vander Woude’s son, Chris, has even taken off work for the next two years to share his father’s story, speaking in cities across the nation to spread the powerful and hopeful story of his father and in turn to assist in laying the foundation for Vander Woude’s possible cause.
Their efforts helped lead the Diocese of Arlington to take several preliminary steps into opening his cause, including naming a postulator and vice postulator, who are investigating and promoting the cause. In the Catholic Church, three things can put a person on the path to sainthood: martyrdom, heroic virtue, and, following a 2017 move by Pope Francis to expand sainthood, an offer of life or the offer of one’s life. Vander Woude falls most especially under this third path, leading to the initial steps being taken by the diocese.
For Chris, seeing these steps taken by the diocese is both deeply humbling and exciting, and he hopes that more people are inspired by his father’s example and legacy as a result.
“To me, this investigation into opening his cause for canonization means that there is hope in living a life of virtue even if it is hidden or simple,” says Chris. “Dad’s story is so powerful, inspirational and full of hope. I hope that many people who learn about his life and his death will be inspired to live holy and virtuous lives in their vocation. Dad was such a wonderful man to anyone that got to meet him. Through learning about his life, I hope people are inspired to be the best versions of themselves, which in many ways is what my dad sought for everyone he interacted with.”
“DO THE RIGHT THING”
Seventeen years after Vander Woude’s sacrificial death, his beloved son, Josie, is alive and well, taking care of Vander Woude’s now 81-year-old wife on the family farm. Vander Woude’s name and portrait are emblazoned above the doors leading into the basketball court at Christendom College, inspiring students daily to emulate his heroic virtue. And the investigation into his cause for canonization is well underway, with Chris traveling across the country to speak at parishes in Virginia, Indiana, Ohio, Texas, New York City, and at the San Francisco Walk for Life, sharing his father’s story wider than ever before.
For Chris, he hopes that his father’s life and legacy will inspire and lead others to live similar lives of heroic virtue, changing the culture for the better.
Tom with his wife, Mary-Ellen.
“Not only did Dad positively impact the communities he was a member of, but those communities positively impacted Dad and our family,” concludes Chris. “Dad’s possible cause being opened is a credit to the communities that he and our family have been blessed to be a part of. Undoubtedly, Dad’s example of how to live a virtuous yet simple life lives on in our family and communities through his memory and the lives of those whom he has touched in life and in death.
“I also believe that it is a profound aspect of Dad’s life that the institutions and groups he touched have continued to thrive after him, especially Seton Home Study, Christendom College, Seton High School, and Holy Trinity, especially the altar boys that he taught and led. He made everyone around him better. The ordinary day in and day out of striving to do God’s will, especially through giving and sacrificing, which he fully exemplified in giving his life to save Josie, should give us all hope.”
As the Diocese of Arlington now begins to investigate his life, those who knew Tom Vander Woude need no convincing of his saintlike virtue. They saw holiness up close on a daily basis — in the calloused hands of a father, the humility of a coach, and the love of a man who gave everything for his son, simply by striving, every day, to “do the right thing.”
Written by Zach Smith
Read more from Instaurare Magazine here.
Learn more about the Tom Vander Woude Guild here.