Born in Leiden, Holland, on September 15th, 1925, he was the son of Josephus and Philomena (Thuring) Van de Poel.

During World War II he was a member of the Dutch Underground Resistance. He received his Ph.D. in Analytical and Organic Chemistry from the State University of Leiden in 1956 and immigrated to the United States, where he worked as a Research Chemist for E.I. Dupont. In 1958, he joined the faculty of Wells College in Aurora, New York as a professor of Chemistry and Physics where he taught until he retired in 1986. It was at Wells College that he met his wife, Marjorie Cowan Van de Poel, who was then a professor of Music at Wells College. Marge, Jef, and their children moved to Ithaca in 1974.

He was born in Canastota, NY on May 31, 1954 to Doris and Roger Holmes Sr. Roderick was a graduate of Canastota high school, and served as a 9th infantry division, 2nd battalion, 77th armored Reconnaissance, scouting for tanks in the Yukon Territory. He received an honorable discharge, under the rank of Buck Sergeant in September 1975. Roderick was a dedicated employee of Cornell University for 18 years. His favorite hobbies included riding his Harley, fishing, hunting, the art of baking, and spending time with family and many close friends. Roderick was a beloved father and husband who will be remembered always by those who knew him.

John was raised on Sunnygables Farm of Ithaca, known to many in recent years as Turback's Restaurant. He attended Ithaca public schools through the tenth grade, then studied three years at Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, NH where in 1941 he earned a degree in English.