Holland pastor, businessman, philanthropist George Boerigter left 'larger than life' legacy

HOLLAND — The Holland community is celebrating the life and legacy of one of its most accomplished residents, George D. Boerigter.

Known for his work as a pastor, businessman and benefactor, Boerigter died Monday, Feb. 23, at age 87 after a long illness.

But those who knew him best are remembering a life well lived.

"He was engaged in his community," said Boerigter's son, Stephen. "He was a huge believer in the value of local philanthropy and just the whole idea that giving, in and of itself, is a positive outcome."

Early life

The youngest of four sons of Edward and Julia Boerigter of Holland, George attended Holland High School and then Hope College, graduating with the class of 1961.

While still at Hope, George met the love of his life, Sibilla DeHoog, a Calvin graduate and a school teacher in Cutlerville. They were married on Dec. 23, 1958, while still attending Hope College, and started their family with their oldest son, James, born in March 1960.

After graduating from Hope, George attended the University of Southern California for his master's degree in public administration. While at USC, George and Sibilla had their second son, Stephen.

"He and my mom were totally devoted to each other, so we could always see that as children," Stephen said.

With an MPA nearly complete, George felt called to the ministry, following in the footsteps of his oldest brother, Jack. He and Sibilla returned to Holland so George could attend Western Theological Seminary; while there, they welcomed their third son, Daniel.

“George Boerigter was a man of extraordinary impact,” Hope College President Matt Scogin said. “As a father and husband, he poured into his family. As a pastor, he shaped the lives of his congregation. As a business leader and entrepreneur, he influenced an entire industry, his customers and his colleagues. And later in life, he poured that same energy and vision into his community and in the process had a profound impact on Hope College.” 

After seminary, the couple moved to Sterling, Illinois, so George could work at Bethel Reformed Church. Three years later, he was called to pastor a congregation in downtown Muskegon and served the Central Reformed Church until 1977.

"He got himself elected to the school board in Muskegon back when he was a pastor at Central Reformed Church," Stephen Boerigter said. "He was always interested in community engagement."

Making a business impact

In 1978, George left the ministry to pursue his goal of utilizing his business skills and his commitment to community.

He first worked at Herman Miller (now known as MillerKnoll), and later worked at several different companies, including Structural Concepts in Spring Lake, Eggers Industries in Wisconsin and Zondervan Publishing in Grand Rapids.

In 1992, while at Central Church in Grand Rapids, George heard of an opportunity to help a small business with only two employees making motorcycle cruise control parts.

That company is SoundOff Signal, a Hudsonville-based company where more than 500 employees worldwide help engineer and manufacture lighting products for emergency vehicles.

A family man

In addition to his numerous contributions to the faith community and the business world, Boerigter's family is also honoring his influence on them as a husband and father.

"Many times, I think people refer to George as a larger-than-life individual, and I'm going to start with him as a dad — he was still larger than life," Stephen Boerigter said. "We had three boys, and we were at various different degrees of achievement in our early years and later, but he was present in our lives, and always the biggest guy around: You could spot him in a crowd.

"He could throw a football farther than anybody; he could kick a football farther than anybody. He was just a big presence," Stephen said. "He was a powerful advocate for education, and always encouraged us in our schooling and to set high standards for ourselves."

Stephen said his father was an investor in many ways, but most of all in his family.

When asked about some notable memories of his father, Stephen said one that immediately came to mind was around the time he transitioned to the faculty of the University of Arizona in 1983.

"He came out to visit me out there in my first year; he had recently received a phone call from a girl I met at Camp Geneva. That girl had had a serious boyfriend, and I think he came all the way out to Tucson just to tell me that he thought she was really wonderful, and I ought to contact her and follow up," Stephen said.

"That girl became my wife. We've been married 39 years now. He was very interested in seeing us boys have the same lifelong loving partner that he did."

Giving back

The Boerigters were ongoing champions for Hope College, providing financial support for behind-the-scenes programming. George and his family were early supporters of the Hope-Western Prison Education Program, making it possible for incarcerated men to accomplish a bachelor’s degree in faith, leadership and service through classes taught by Hope and Western Seminary professors and program staff. 

In 2018, Hope College opened the Boerigter Center for Calling and Career — a college-wide initiative that engages students in career development by emphasizing discernment, preparation and pursuit.

The center, which aids Hope students in recognizing their strengths, helps prepare them for and teaches them how to pursue a career. In July, the center received an award from the National Career Development Association for its initiatives and innovations supporting career development.

Read More: Hope’s Boerigter Center receives national award for exemplary programming

The Boerigter Center has been presented with numerous awards since its founding, including the 2022 National Association of Colleges and Employers’ Technology Excellence Award, which was received in tandem with Hope’s library, and the 2022 PeopleGrove Innovator’s Award. Hope computer science students also designed interactive technology showcasing nationwide jobs available through work with the center, which won NACE’s 2022 Technology Excellence Award in the college category.

“George cared deeply about students’ futures and wanted every one of them to find a vocation rooted in calling. The Boerigter Center for Calling and Career embodies that passion,” Scogin said. “His legacy lives on in the lives of our students, and we are profoundly grateful for his enduring influence.” 

Later years

In 2008, George and Sibilla enjoyed several years of winters in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where they became very involved in both their church and in the community. It also allowed them to spend time with their son Steve and his family, who lived in Los Alamos.

"A lot of his years, when we were raising our children and my brothers were raising their children, and all of us lived in different places, we didn't see them as much. There's a whole span of years where we largely saw each other, mostly over Christmas or something," Stephen said.

"But then after their 50th anniversary, they spent 11 years with about half of their time in Albuquerque."

By then, George had retired as the president and chair of SoundOff Signal to become "just executive chairman of the company," Stephen said, but that didn't stop his father from being immersed in the community.

"His level of civic engagement in New Mexico was extraordinary," Stephen said. "In those 11 years, he came in from Michigan as just a newbie to town, and within months, he was on the opera board and on the symphony board and talking to the leaders at the University of Mexico business school. And I think, by the time he left, he was on a first-name basis with the mayor," Stephen said.

"But I think their time in New Mexico can more easily demonstrate and highlight that sense of commitment to a community, because they came in from nowhere, lived there basically during the winter for 11 years. But when they were there, they were all into being a part of Albuquerque and engagement in philanthropy," he said.

In 2019, George and Sibilla returned home to Holland and moved into Freedom Village, which allowed them to become avid supporters for all things Hope College, Calvin College and Western Seminary. George also relished his ability to use his success to help others who needed a boost in their life or career as well as try to make a difference in the community that he lived in, both with his time and his financial commitments.

In 2024, George and Sibilla were generous founders of the Ottawa News Network, and George served on the organization's board of directors until shortly before his death.

Survivors include George's wife of 67 years, Sabilla, as well as the couple's three children: son, James and his wife Letitia and their son, Calvin and his husband Ryan; son Stephen and his wife Kathleen and their three daughters, Rebecca and her husband Jason Lengyel and their four children, Kimberly and her husband Gerritt and Michelle; and Daniel and his wife Christina and their two sons, Peter and Steven.

The family has requested that residents consider making a donation to Homecor, 96 W. 15th St., Ste. 202, Holland, or Community Action House, 739 Paw Paw Drive, Holland.

— Sarah Leach is the executive editor of the Ottawa News Network. Contact her at sleach@ottawanewsnetwork.org. Follow her on Twitter @ONNLeach.