John VornDick - Obituary

ohn Henry VornDick, Jr., of Crownsville, Maryland, died at the age of 76 on January 12, 2016, at the Inpatient Care Center of Hospice of the Chesapeake, surrounded by his loving family and sponsor-sons of the United States Naval Academy. Mr. VornDick was born on August 1, 1939, in Washington, D.C., the son of Charlotte Walters Bolin VornDick and John Henry VornDick, Sr. He grew up in Arlington, Virginia, where he attended St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School and graduated from Washington-Lee High School. While in high school, Mr VornDick was active in Boy Scouts and earned the distinction of Eagle Scout. After graduation, Mr. VornDick completed an apprenticeship and became a photoengraver. While working at the Associated Press, he met presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson. During those years, while living in Great Falls, Virginia, Mr. VornDick was an active member of the Great Falls Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, and after advanced study became a Firefighter Instructor at the Virginia State Firefighting School in Staunton, Virginia. Mr. VornDick was a fan of bluegrass music, and for years was friends of the bluegrass groups The Seldom Scene and The Country Gentleman. He traveled to bluegrass festivals with the bands, and enjoyed fixing food for the musicians who often came to his RV for an after-concert "jam session." His fondness for bluegrass music continued all his life. In 1975, Mr. VornDick worked as a printer and salesman with Beach Brothers Printing in Rockville, Maryland, and moved to Herald Harbor in Crownsville, Maryland. Mr. VornDick enjoyed SCUBA diving and became a SCUBA instructor for a diving club near Annapolis. An accomplished open water diver, he was the first to remove brass letters from the Washingtonian shipwreck. When the United States Naval Academy asked if he would teach the midshipmen, Mr. VornDick agreed and was a volunteer SCUBA instructor at USNA for 15 years. In 1976, John became active in the Sponsor Program at the Naval Academy, and over the span of 40 years he provided a "home away from home" for over 350 Naval Academy midshipmen and West Point cadet exchange students. Mr. VornDick enjoyed entertaining and is remembered for his crab feasts and tailgaters at Navy football games, and he never missed a home game in over 35 years. His dedication to his "mids" is legendary. On June 26, 1986, the United States House of Representatives recognized Mr. VornDick's service to the midshipmen of the Naval Academy, an honor which is recorded in the Congressional Record. His sponsorees awarded him honorary membership in the classes of 1980, 1981, and 1989. Since 1983, Mr. VornDick was active at the Naval Academy Chapel as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist and as head of the altar servers. Mr. VornDick also enjoyed adventure and traveled extensively, including many trips to London, Australia, and China to walk on the Great Wall. He was inspired to make the trip to China when he saw a photo of the earth taken from space while working at the Associated Press and made it a goal to walk on the wall, a goal which he accomplished almost half a century later. Mr. VornDick is preceded in death by a sister, Charlotte Anne VornDick, and a brother, Thomas Edward Bolin VornDick. He is survived by a sister, Barbara Elizabeth VornDick, and a brother, William Thomas VornDick, 5 nieces and nephews, 3 grandnieces and nephews, many Godchildren, over 350 sponsor-sons and 1 sponsor-daughter. An electronic guest book can be accessed by visiting the link on this page. The funeral Mass will be at the Cathedral of the Navy at the United States Naval Academy on Wednesday, January 20th, at 10 a.m. At the conclusion of the Mass, there will be a procession to the USNA cemetery for inurnment in the columbarium, followed immediately by a reception at Dahlgren Hall. Remembrances may be made in the form desired by friends. Both flowers (sent to the Naval Academy Chapel at the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland), and contributions to Hospice of the Chesapeake, are welcome. Best and Later, John!