It is with great sadness that we announce that Wayne Matthew Van Vleet, Esq. of Medina, N.Y. and former resident of Liberty, N.Y. passed away at the age of 57 at his home in Medina, N.Y. on October …
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It is with great sadness that we announce that Wayne Matthew Van Vleet, Esq. of Medina, N.Y. and former resident of Liberty, N.Y. passed away at the age of 57 at his home in Medina, N.Y. on October 9, 2024.
Wayne was born on April 23, 1967, in Middletown NY, the son of Martin George Van Vleet and Shirley Miller Van Vleet.
He was a 1985 graduate of Liberty Central High School, a recipient of a Regents Scholarship, the 1985 Scholar Athlete Award, the Sullivan County Soccer Officials Award, and was presented with a $5,000 scholarship award from the Sullivan County Italian American Civic Association. Wayne was active on the Debate Team and received the Lincoln Douglas Double Ruby Award, and was active in Student Government, Tennis, Soccer and Cross-Country Skiing.
He was a 1989 graduate from Cornell University’s School of Industrial Labor Relations where he was Vice President of his fraternity, Tau Kappa Epsilon, and active in ILR Student Government, played tennis, soccer and basketball and was also a Student Advisor. He served as a Legislative Intern for the NYS Assembly’s 1988 Session in Albany New York where he performed legislative research and wrote numerous articles, that were published in Union Publications in New York State. Wayne was the recipient of a merit award and legislative resolution for his research paper “Fighting Poverty: A Livable Minimum Wage” which was chosen as 1 of 4 from 95 papers submitted by interns for that session. The paper is included in Volume XI of the State Assembly Intern Reports.
Wayne Van Vleet went on to receive his Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of Buffalo, School of Law in Buffalo, New York. At the time of his death Wayne served as General Counsel and Executive Director of Personnel Human Resources and Labor Relations at Orleans / Niagara BOCES. While employed there he was part of Leadership Niagara and was the recipient of several awards, including the Orleans / Niagara BOCES Administrator of the Year in the 2009-10 school year. He was also the recipient of the Western New York State Educational Service Council’s Administrator of the Year in 2018.
Wayne was known for his integrity and honesty, he will be fondly remembered for his kindness, empathy, and his passion for working in the best interest of the students and staff that he worked with across the Orleans and Niagara counties.
Wayne had very strong values and was respected by everyone who had the honor of working with him. He also very much enjoyed mentoring others as well as teaching courses at Niagara University.
Anyone who knew Wayne knew he had a quick wit and an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. There was nothing he liked more than to discuss and debate politics, novels, and current events. Wayne enjoyed spending his free time watching sports, especially enjoying NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball, and attending March Madness games. He was also an avid animal lover, enjoying the company of several family dogs in his childhood and as an adult would offer to cat sit for friends.
Wayne touched the lives of so many people in such a short time, before his untimely passing. He will be missed and remembered for his wisdom, humor, and that ready smile that could brighten any room he entered.
Wayne is survived by his mother, Shirley Miller Wallach of Phoenix, AZ, a brother, Scott Van Vleet of Goodyear, AZ, sisters, Pamela Sedlak (Scott) of Riverview, FL and Kelly Cavaliere (Gregg) of Katonah, NY. Aunts, Gretchen Carpenter (Irv) of Poughkeepsie, NY, Jean Stafford (Dave) of Ballston Spa, NY, Marian Myers (Earl) of Jeffersonville, NY. Uncles, Bruce Miller of Monticello, NY, Bruce Van Vleet (Liz) of New Paltz, NY, Roger Ebert of North Branch, NY, Clifford Danielson of Albany, NY, John and Lorraine Ebert of North Branch, NY. Nieces and Nephews as follows, Brandon Van Vleet of Phoenix, AZ, Christopher Sedlak of Tampa, FL, Gannon Sedlak of Tampa, FL, Tara Montes (Jason) of Riverview, FL, Julia Cato (Rob) of North Smithfield, RI, Carly Cavaliere of Charleston, SC, Christian Cavaliere of West Palm Beach, FL and Grand Nephew Julien Montes.
Wayne was also survived by several cousins, friends, colleagues, and coworkers.
He was predeceased by his father Martin George Van Vleet and his stepmom Lyal Ebert Van Vleet. Grandparents George and Mary Van Vleet, Fred and Audrey Miller, and John and Ruth Ebert. Uncles Peter Jay Van Vleet and Ed Adams. Aunts Erna Adams, Mary Ann Van Vleet, June Danielson, and Sue Ebert.
Family and friends can gather on Saturday, November 2, 2024, from 2-3:00pm at Colonial Ramsay Funeral Home, 275 S. Main St, Liberty New York, 12754, to converse and view family pictures before the service. The service will be held at the funeral home at 3:00pm. Burial will follow at the Laurel Hill Cemetery, White Sulphur Springs, New York.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Wayne M. Van Vleet, ESQ Memorial Scholarship fund at the Orleans / Niagara BOCES, 4232 Shelby Basin Rd., Medina, New York, 14103.
Arrangements under the care of Colonial-Ramsay Funeral Home, for further information call 845-292-7160 / 845-434-7363 or visit www.colonialfamilyfuneralhomes.com.