2008 Honorary Commodores

John B. VanDerbeek IV
John was born and raised in Aberdeen, Washington. He spent summers boating and developed an early love of the water. Following graduation from law school, he met and married Diane in 1985. They began their quest for a beautiful wooden boat almost immediately, and in 1994 purchased the MV Olympus, a 1929 New York Yacht Launch and Engine Company 97’ motor yacht. More information about the boat can be found at www.yachtolympus.com. In 2003, on her first visit to the Victoria Classic Boat Festiva®l the Olympus was awarded the prestigious “Best of Show.” John is an active commercial real estate investor. He belongs to Seattle Yacht Club, Classic Yacht Association, and the Antique and Classic Boat Society. John and Diane are major donors to the Northwest Maritime Center in Port Townsend and in 2006 they lead a fund raising cruise to the Canadian Great Bear Rainforest to bring major financial support to the environmental group “Raincoast.” Olympus is frequently donated to charitable and environmental fundraising causes.

Diane L. VanDerbeek
Diane was born in Seattle and raised in Kirkland, Washington. She graduated from law school and practiced as a successful family law lawyer for 23 years. Now retired, she enjoys rowing and is on a crew team. She is looking forward to learning to row her wooden Pocock single rowing shell being built at the Northwest Maritime Center. She is an accomplished equestrian and loves ride English. She manages the day to day operations of Olympus and assists John with his duties as President of the Holland Society. Another important role that Diane enjoys is organizing the annual Olympus Gin & Tonic party at the Victoria Classic Festival®.
John and Diane live in Mercer Island, Washington and are most honored to serve as Honorary Commodores for the 2008 Classic Boat Festival®.

Our Past Commodores

1979 Ned Ashe

1981 Humphrey Golby

1983 Bill Tellier

1985 Charlie Gould

1987 Norman Blanchard

1989 Captain Adrian Raynaud

1991 Lee Brewer

1993 Karl Mehrer

1995 Bev Highton

1997 Henry Clark

1999 Shirley Hewett

2001 James Butterfield

2003 John Guzzwell

2005 Scott Rohrer

2007 John West

1980 Jack Gann

1982 Frank Fredette

1984 Ernestine Bennett

1986 Martyn Clark

1988 Bob Leach

1990 Jim Saull

1992 Blayney Scott

1994 Frank “Tor” Miller

1996 Dick Wagner

1998 Bent Jespersen

2000 Ted Brewer

2002 Julian Matson

2004 Don Thompson

2006 Bill Wolferstan