Wayne Matthew Van Vleet, Esq.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 October 2024 at 9:52 am

MEDINA – It is with great sadness that we announce that Wayne Matthew Van Vleet, Esq. of Medina, N.Y, and former resident of Liberty, NY, 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 1989 graduate from Cornell University’s School of Industrial Labor Relations and obtained his Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of Buffalo, School of Law.  He was employed for the past 32 years as General Counsel and Executive Director of Personnel Human Resources and Labor Relations at Orleans/Niagara BOCES. He was a past recipient of the Orleans/Niagara BOCES Administrator of the Year and the Western New York’s Educational Service Council’s Administrator of the Year awards.

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 across Orleans and Niagara Counties.

Wayne had strong values and was respected by everyone who worked with him. He enjoyed mentoring others as well as teaching courses at Niagara University. Wayne 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 would offer to cat sit for friends.

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; along with numerous other relatives.

Family and friends can gather on Saturday, November 2, 2024, from 2 to 3 p.m. at Colonial Ramsay Funeral Home, 275 S. Main St, Liberty New York, 12754. The service will be held at the funeral home at 3 p.m. Burial will follow at the Laurel Hill Cemetery, White Sulphur Springs, New York. A  Celebration of his Life will be held locally (Medina) at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Wayne M. Van Vleet, Esq. Scholarship Fund c/o the Orleans/Niagara BOCES, 4232 Shelby Basin Rd. Medina, New York, 14103.