Andrea Van Kampen

Andrea Van Kampen passed away on September 9, 2026, at the age of 77. She was surrounded by her family and loved ones. Andrea had battled lung cancer valiantly for seven years to live as long as possible for her husband, three children, and seven grandchildren. Andrea married her “high school sweetheart,” Russell VanKampen (age 79), on June 9, 1968, and they began their life together in Paterson, NJ. Together they raised three children, Joshua Van Kampen (55), Bethany Van Kampen Saravia (44), and Allison Van Kampen (40). Inspired in her 20’s by the feminist movement and her women’s consciousness-raising group, Andrea attended Rutgers Law School at night while raising her first born, Joshua, and working full-time. She excelled in law school and was hired by Weil Gotshal in New York City as the only female associate in her class. Throughout her career she worked as an intellectual property attorney in various in-house roles. She stayed committed to fighting the good fight and her core beliefs in justice and equality throughout retirement.

Despite a demanding career and schedule, Andrea remained a dedicated and devoted mother, wife, and friend. Andrea successfully negotiated a flex schedule and began working from home on Fridays to be with her “girls” – her younger children, daughters Bethany and Allison, laying the pathway for other working mothers to do the same. In retirement Andrea spent countless hours serving as a guardian ad litem in York County, SC. There, she also co-founded the Greater Lake Wylie Progressives (GLWP) in 2017 after mounting concern that voters in the area faced uncontested races on the ballot. Starting with an organizing committee of six, the organization now has almost 400 subscribers and has participated in every election since 2017. She served as co-chair, ensuring that the GLWPs operated within election laws as they conducted voter registration drives, created and distributed voter guides and organized Get Out the Vote efforts. Now, almost ten years later, every single federal, state and local seat in the area is being contested in the upcoming midterm elections. Andrea would be so proud.

Her passion for the law and social justice proved genetic, as all three of her children followed in her footsteps to law school. Joshua and Allison represent workers in employment law matters, and Bethany has devoted her career to policy advocacy and protecting women’s reproductive rights. Andrea and Russell moved to Lake Wylie, SC in 2015. Throughout retirement, she loved exploring Europe and sunset boat rides with Russell, and the thrill of winning items of interest in online auctions. She treasured family gatherings at NC beaches, the Jersey shore, and Wellfleet, MA. Andrea was generous with her kitchen and always eager to host

and feed family and friends, especially on holidays. She never met an oyster, a good martini, a delicious wine, or a piece of chocolate she did not love. Andrea consistently found inspiration in the arts and became a prodigious potter. She and Russell studied wheel pottery first in New Jersey and later at Winthrop University in SC. She instilled in her children a deep appreciation not only for art, but for the beauty of nature as well. She never missed the opportunity to savor a cup of coffee on her deck or let a sunset slip away without taking a moment to appreciate it. She loved digging in the dirt, both at home and as a volunteer at Duke Gardens in Charlotte, NC, and she never tired of seeing caterpillars emerge as butterflies and having hummingbirds visit her feeders. Her greatest passion was being “Gamma” to her seven grandchildren—her “bigs” Zachary (27), Gaige (23) and Ely Van Kampen (20) and her “littles”, Jax (5), Vianna (5), Ruby (3) and Iris (1), whom she spoiled shamelessly. Andrea was happiest when she was playing and creating magic with her grandchildren, finding them hidden gems on Facebook marketplace, and celebrating milestones. She was famous for her care packages of French Cake (from a family recipe) and other goodies. Andrea’s family and friends miss her passion, her laughter, and her kind and giving heart every day, yet know she will always remain in spirit and walk alongside them. Everyone who knew her is encouraged to attend her Celebration of Life at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden on October 25, 2026, from 1:00-4:00 p.m. (please no black). In lieu of flowers, Andrea’s family encourages donations to organizations that support cancer research, women’s health and the right to choose what happens to their bodies, animal shelters and candidates who support progressive values.