Dr. Thornton Arthur “Van” Vandersall

Age 87
Loving Father, Brother, Grandfather and Great-Grandfather

Kennett Square, PA- Dr. Thornton Arthur Van Vandersall, 87, died peacefully after a period of declining health. Van was born in Orbisonia, Pennsylvania on October 7, 1928, the son of Muriel and Vernon Vandersall. He graduated from the College of Wooster (Ohio) in 1950 and received his M.D. degree from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, PA in 1954. He was trained in Pediatrics at Bellevue Hospital and New York Hospital (NYC) and in Psychiatry and Child Psychiatry at St. Lukes Hospital Center (NYC).

After serving on the staffs of St. Lukes and Roosevelt Hospitals in NYC he initiated the child psychiatry program at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, NY and served as director of the Department of Psychiatry there from 1974 to 1988. He later returned to work at North Shore for five more years in the consultation division of the psychiatry department where he remained active in the training of psychiatric residents. Van also served on the faculty of Cornell University Medical College for over twenty years and attained the rank of Emeritus Professor of Clinical Psychiatry.

Van and his wife Jean (Hoerner) resided on Long Island in Huntington, NY, where they raised their three sons and lived together for over 50 years. He enjoyed reading, spending time outdoors, and travelling with his family to their summer home in Islesboro, ME. Van was actively involved in his church, community, and several non-profit boards.

He was certified by the American Boards in Pediatrics, Psychiatry and Child Psychiatry. He was a life member of the Nassau County Medical Society, the Medical Society of the State of New York, and the American Medical Association. He was a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Van was pre-deceased by his wife of 54 years, Jean Hoerner Vandersall, in 2008. He is survived by his two sisters, Virginia Jackson, of Warrington, PA and Amy Lou Vandersall of Boulder, CO, and his brother, David Vandersall of St. Simons Island, GA, as well as his three sons: Mark, and his wife, Laura, of Jamison, PA; Kent, and his wife, Denise, of Cincinnati, Ohio; and Scott, and his wife, Amy, of West Dennis, Massachusetts, as well as seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Van had a warm and generous spirit throughout his life, and will be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

A celebration of Dr. Vandersalls life will be held on Saturday, February 6th 2016 at 2pm at the William Penn Lounge of Crosslands Community, 1660 E Street Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the College of Wooster C/O The Gault Alumni Center 1012 Beall Avenue Wooster, OH 44691. Arrangements are being handled by the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home Inc. (610-444-4116) of Kennett Square. To share a memory with his family, please visit www.griecocares.com

Message from the Family

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College of Wooster
C/O The Gault Alumni Center
1012 Beall Avenue Wooster, OH 44691

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Services

Celebration of Life
February 6, 2016 2:00 PM
Crosslands Community
William Penn Room
1660 E. Street Road
Kennett Square, PA 19348

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