Gretchen Vandenberg

Dr. Gretchen Vandenberg, a beloved music teacher, wife, mother, and grandmother, was born April 5, 1944, in Dayton, Ohio. She died peacefully at home surrounded by family on March 22, 2026. Gretchen taught tens of thousands of children to sing as an elementary school music teacher in Gilroy, California. When she moved to Gilroy with her family in 1974, Gretchen discovered that the school district did not have an elementary music program. She vowed to start one, working first as a volunteer and later as a full-time teacher. Over her decades-long career, she drove her station wagon from elementary school to elementary school, toting sheet music, directing choirs, and teaching children across the district to play flutophones. Mrs. Vandenberg, as she was known, radiated joy. She directed choirs at Gilroy United Methodist Church and Morgan Hill United Methodist Church, later serving as a Methodist minister. A gifted musician and singer, she played the Reverend Mother in a community production of the Sound of Music. “Climb Every Mountain” was her theme song, and her mantra. In 1993, she obtained her Doctorate in Education at the University of San Francisco.

Gretchen loved music, she loved her family, she loved teaching, and she adored her students. Her beautiful voice, joyful laughter, and boundless optimism are the gifts that she left to all of us.

Gretchen is survived by her wife, Debra Smith, her daughter, Martina (Tina) Vandenberg (Alan Cooperman), her son, Christopher Vandenberg (Jennifer Vandenberg), and two grandsons, Marshall and Max Cooperman. Her former husband, Pieter van den Berg, passed away in October 2025.

In lieu of flowers, please give to Habitat for Humanity, one of her favorite charities.