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.

Mr. Van de Poel is survived by his three children, Roger (Lynn) Van de Poel of Lansing, New York, Alison (Michael) Dunn of Plymouth, Massachusetts, and Lowell Van de Poel of New York, New York. He is also survived by his five grandchildren, Kyle and Cole Van de Poel of Lansing; James, Isabel, and Sean Dunn of Plymouth. Marge preceded him in death in November of 2004. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Jan Van de Poel, who was a government executive of the City of Leiden.

Friends are invited to call at the family home located at 1106 Hanshaw Road on Wednesday, April 30th, from 3-7 p.m.

At the request of Jef and his family, in lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be sent to, Hospicare of Tompkins County, 172 King Road, Ithaca, New York 14850.

Arrangements are under the direction of Lansing Funeral Home, Lansing, NY 14882.