Richard van Gelder
April 27, 1934-Dec. 21, 2024
Palo Alto, California
Submitted by John van Gelder

Richard Bruce van Gelder, a telecommunications industry pioneer and loving father and grandfather, passed away Dec. 21, 2024, at the age of 90, following a 2 1/2-year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was with family while undergoing hospice care at the time of his death.

Born April 27, 1934, in Spokane, Washington, van Gelder was the son of John R. and Lelia M. van Gelder. His father, a logger, gas station owner, and mechanic, sparked Richard’s lifelong passion for mechanics—a talent he demonstrated early on by taking apart and reassembling a car engine at just 10 years old. He graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in 1952, where his natural curiosity occasionally got him into trouble, particularly with his science teacher.

After high school, van Gelder attended Washington State University, earning a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1957. His career in telecommunications began shortly afterward when he moved to San Francisco and was drafted then sent to the Army. He was stationed at the Presidio before transitioning to a quieter life.

Spanning more than four decades, his career included contributions to the growth of telecommunications technology. He worked for Secode, a startup in San Rafael, Calif.; R.A. Rapinski Co. in San Francisco, Calif.; Western Union in New York City; GTE Lenkurt in San Carlos, Calif.; and HP Labs in Palo Alto, Calif. He played a key role in the development of early mobile telephone systems, management of a PCM transmission line equipment design group and the national standardization of telecommunications networks. At HP, he was involved in integrating computers with telecommunication systems and overseeing the installation of fiber-optic technology.

In 1961, van Gelder married Joan, whom he met at a church youth group in San Francisco. The couple married in Boulder, Colorado, and had two children, Julie and John. They moved to Palo Alto in 1968, where van Gelder became actively involved in the local community. He volunteered for many years at First Congregational Church, serving in various roles, including congregational clerk, as well as providing technical support and delivering flowers to homebound members.

Outside of work, van Gelder was an avid photographer, collecting cameras and developing his own film. He was also a passionate outdoorsman, often taking his family on hiking trips, camping excursions, and vacations to national parks, especially Yosemite. In his free time, he enjoyed building model airplanes, kites, and clocks, showcasing his meticulous attention to detail. He also fixed his own cars and house. Described by family as hopeful, kind, persistent, and perhaps a little eccentric, van Gelder led by example. He taught his children the value of hard work, integrity, and helping others. His proudest moments came when he saw his children and grandchildren graduate from college.

He was preceded in death by his wife Joan van Gelder. Surviving are his two children, Julie van Gelder (and husband Brent Gregory) and John van Gelder (and wife Linda van Gelder); and his four grandchildren, Christopher van Gelder, Rachel van Gelder, Scott Gregory, and Allison Gregory. He will be missed dearly by both family and friends.