Instructor Profiles
“Education is not learning the facts, but the training of the mind how to think.”
- Albert Einstein
Meet Gates Vrooman - by Lynn Lothman
Curious, humble, and forward thinking are all words that describe Gates Vrooman. Gates has been with OLLI as an instructor for the past seven years. His repertoire of classes includes, exploring the books, “A Case for God” by Karen Armstrong and “Thinking, Fast and Slow” by Daniel Kahneman to a class on John Muir and several classes on happiness. He wears a bracelet with the words ‘embrace change’, a comfortable accepting smile at the ready, and an attitude of curiosity with a capital “C.”
Gates was born an only child in Painesville, Ohio a stone’s throw from Cleveland. His father was a blue-collar man who built industrial machines, a problem solver and troubleshooter, his mother a secretary for the county commissioner. He laughed when he described himself as an adolescent. “I was a bit of a geek. Although I participated in football and track, I also used a pocket protector and wore a slide rule on my belt.” While in High School he became involved as a local preacher for the United Methodist Church. He graduated in 1964 from Ohio Wesleyan University in the best liberal arts program they offered, pre-theology. With an insatiable curiosity, Gates earned his master’s degree at Yale Divinity School in New Haven, Connecticut in 1967 and his Doctor of Ministry degree in 1982. He was the first in his family to graduate college and to earn an advanced degree. Along with his wife Nancy and eventually two daughters, Melissa and Amy, Gates began his long career of ministering to the needs of the communities where they lived.
Gates spent his working life in Chicago and two county-seat towns that dot the rural Illinois landscape within an hour of the city and suburbs closer to the city proper. From 1974-1984, he worked in the inner city of Chicago and in a town named Maywood. Maywood at the time was the definition of racial tension, segregation and forced integration. He recalled the volatility of the times, the slow process of reaching out to effect change, the pain of being rebuked, and the frustrations inherent in change. Over time, his forward thinking progressive church began opening their doors to children on both sides of the segregation line, Ashland Avenue. Gates remembers one summer evening, escaping the sweltering heat of the day driving around their neighborhood with their car windows down. A little singsong from a group of African American children congregated on a front stoop sounded familiar. They slowed to listen and realized it was a song that church volunteers were teaching the children in their summer program. “There was much satisfaction in that,” said Gates.
Gates and his wife Nancy retired to the Hillsborough area in 2004 to be closer to grandchildren, enjoy a more temperate climate, and to begin a new chapter and verse. Volunteerism has been his mantra and besides teaching at OLLI, he sits on the curriculum committee of theology, philosophy and psychology. He participates with the Orange County Correctional Facility taking low risk inmates out for an evening once a week for fellowship.
Gates describes himself as a life long learner, a facilitator. His first class with OLLI was “Great Conversations” with Helen Swinford. “I loved it. OLLI stimulated my brain, opened horizons as I met new people, and allowed me the pleasure of thinking outside the box. I love learning and I love teaching, and I learn best when I teach.” He has a tremendous respect for his students and works tirelessly to make their learning experience mutual and enlightening. Many students come to his class and all classes with tremendous life experiences and Gates feels that tapping into their knowledge enriches the class and makes learning a mutual process.
The class on ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ wouldn’t have run as smoothly without the class assistant Laurie Bowers. “Laurie is an excellent assistant. She keeps me organized, on time, and on track.” Laurie volunteers to be class assistant because it’s her way of giving back, to honor the instructor, and demonstrate her appreciation. She comments, “It’s a labor of love, the expertise, and the time commitment that instructors selflessly give to the learning process and the students of OLLI. Gates is superb at distilling information, breaking it apart into understandable manageable bites and helping the students discover how it will resonate with them.” Assistants take attendance, share information, and set up the room to facilitate learning for the teacher’s teaching style. The byproduct is that with the responsibility often times the classroom experience is enhanced and a deeper connection with classmates is enabled. “I am not an assistant to usurp the facilitation of the classroom but to subtly and respectfully help the instructor’s class to run smoothly,” said Laurie.
When asked what would surprise most people about him, Gates thought for a minute or two. “I’m a hiker. My wife is a hike master. I’ve been hiking my whole life and we have been hiking together since we met. Colorado is our favorite hiking destination.” Gates related a harrowing, difficult and arduous hike at 13,000 feet on Mount Audubon in the Rockies near the Continental Divide. It was growing late and he and his wife and daughter decided to return to the car the back way, off the beaten path. After walking along a spiny ridge they soon realized that there was no easy way down and impending darkness would not allow them to return to the trail the way they came. Scooting over rocks, jumping crevices, shimmying down 3-sided chimney rocks to 45-degree angles of loose rock, the three finally made it back to the car. Perhaps it is an analogy of life in challenging and uncertain times. Like the hike down the mountainside, we don’t know what lies ahead. It may be fraught with danger but once on the path chosen we cannot turn back. Gates continues to embrace change and positively effect those around him in small but profound ways. One of his favorite quotes describes his philosophy of life.
Gates was born an only child in Painesville, Ohio a stone’s throw from Cleveland. His father was a blue-collar man who built industrial machines, a problem solver and troubleshooter, his mother a secretary for the county commissioner. He laughed when he described himself as an adolescent. “I was a bit of a geek. Although I participated in football and track, I also used a pocket protector and wore a slide rule on my belt.” While in High School he became involved as a local preacher for the United Methodist Church. He graduated in 1964 from Ohio Wesleyan University in the best liberal arts program they offered, pre-theology. With an insatiable curiosity, Gates earned his master’s degree at Yale Divinity School in New Haven, Connecticut in 1967 and his Doctor of Ministry degree in 1982. He was the first in his family to graduate college and to earn an advanced degree. Along with his wife Nancy and eventually two daughters, Melissa and Amy, Gates began his long career of ministering to the needs of the communities where they lived.
Gates spent his working life in Chicago and two county-seat towns that dot the rural Illinois landscape within an hour of the city and suburbs closer to the city proper. From 1974-1984, he worked in the inner city of Chicago and in a town named Maywood. Maywood at the time was the definition of racial tension, segregation and forced integration. He recalled the volatility of the times, the slow process of reaching out to effect change, the pain of being rebuked, and the frustrations inherent in change. Over time, his forward thinking progressive church began opening their doors to children on both sides of the segregation line, Ashland Avenue. Gates remembers one summer evening, escaping the sweltering heat of the day driving around their neighborhood with their car windows down. A little singsong from a group of African American children congregated on a front stoop sounded familiar. They slowed to listen and realized it was a song that church volunteers were teaching the children in their summer program. “There was much satisfaction in that,” said Gates.
Gates and his wife Nancy retired to the Hillsborough area in 2004 to be closer to grandchildren, enjoy a more temperate climate, and to begin a new chapter and verse. Volunteerism has been his mantra and besides teaching at OLLI, he sits on the curriculum committee of theology, philosophy and psychology. He participates with the Orange County Correctional Facility taking low risk inmates out for an evening once a week for fellowship.
Gates describes himself as a life long learner, a facilitator. His first class with OLLI was “Great Conversations” with Helen Swinford. “I loved it. OLLI stimulated my brain, opened horizons as I met new people, and allowed me the pleasure of thinking outside the box. I love learning and I love teaching, and I learn best when I teach.” He has a tremendous respect for his students and works tirelessly to make their learning experience mutual and enlightening. Many students come to his class and all classes with tremendous life experiences and Gates feels that tapping into their knowledge enriches the class and makes learning a mutual process.
The class on ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ wouldn’t have run as smoothly without the class assistant Laurie Bowers. “Laurie is an excellent assistant. She keeps me organized, on time, and on track.” Laurie volunteers to be class assistant because it’s her way of giving back, to honor the instructor, and demonstrate her appreciation. She comments, “It’s a labor of love, the expertise, and the time commitment that instructors selflessly give to the learning process and the students of OLLI. Gates is superb at distilling information, breaking it apart into understandable manageable bites and helping the students discover how it will resonate with them.” Assistants take attendance, share information, and set up the room to facilitate learning for the teacher’s teaching style. The byproduct is that with the responsibility often times the classroom experience is enhanced and a deeper connection with classmates is enabled. “I am not an assistant to usurp the facilitation of the classroom but to subtly and respectfully help the instructor’s class to run smoothly,” said Laurie.
When asked what would surprise most people about him, Gates thought for a minute or two. “I’m a hiker. My wife is a hike master. I’ve been hiking my whole life and we have been hiking together since we met. Colorado is our favorite hiking destination.” Gates related a harrowing, difficult and arduous hike at 13,000 feet on Mount Audubon in the Rockies near the Continental Divide. It was growing late and he and his wife and daughter decided to return to the car the back way, off the beaten path. After walking along a spiny ridge they soon realized that there was no easy way down and impending darkness would not allow them to return to the trail the way they came. Scooting over rocks, jumping crevices, shimmying down 3-sided chimney rocks to 45-degree angles of loose rock, the three finally made it back to the car. Perhaps it is an analogy of life in challenging and uncertain times. Like the hike down the mountainside, we don’t know what lies ahead. It may be fraught with danger but once on the path chosen we cannot turn back. Gates continues to embrace change and positively effect those around him in small but profound ways. One of his favorite quotes describes his philosophy of life.
“All is a miracle or none of it’s a miracle.” - Albert Einstein