Richard Arie Van Konynenburg
Lab retiree Richard Arie Van Konynenburg of Livermore died from a heart attack Sept. 25 while visiting his son in Seattle, Wash. He was 70.
He was born April 24, 1942 in Modesto to Franklin Van Konynenburg and Christina Vanden Akker, first generation Dutch Americans who operated a dairy farm.
Van Konynenburg attended public schools in Modesto, graduating from Modesto High School in 1959. He was active in both FFA and 4H and showed particular interest in science projects such as those related to electricity and chemistry.
He attended UC Davis for both his undergraduate and graduate education. He was chosen as a commencement speaker when he received his bachelor's degree in 1963. He received a Ph.D. in engineering and applied physical sciences in 1974.
Following college, he served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers attaining the rank of captain at the conclusion of his Army career. He served both at the Pentagon and at Ft. Belvoir, Va. He specialized in the area of mine detection. As part of his military duty, he worked on special boats to detect floating mines in the waterways of Vietnam. He accompanied these boats to Vietnam and tested them.
Van Konynenburg worked for more than 30 years at LLNL conducting research and development in nuclear materials and technology. He worked in the Chemistry, Materials, Earth and Life Sciences Directorate. He was especially active in the area of long-term nuclear waste storage. He retired from LLNL in 2006, but had already begun significant work in health care research.
In 2007, he proposed a hypothesis relating to a possible cause of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME-CFS). He suggested that an existing treatment for autism might be used in the treatment of ME-CFS. A doctor-led clinical study using this treatment was found to provide significant benefit to about two-thirds of the patients who participated. This treatment is finding growing use in the ME-CFS community internationally.
Van Konynenburg was active at the Calvary Reformed Church in Ripon and while in college, with the Davis Community (Presbyterian) Church. He was president of the CalAggie Christian association. While serving at the Pentagon and at Fort Belvoir, he was active in the Presbyterian church of Falls Church, Va.
Following his return to California, and prior to his marriage, he spent 10 years in leadership in a Christian singles ministry related to Peninsula Bible Church in Palo Alto. He was active as a leader and teacher at Valley Christian Center in Dublin, Calif. from 1986 until 2001. He and his wife Diana began attending Cornerstone Fellowship in Livermore in 2001.
He enjoyed many family activities including trips to the Middle East, South America, Europe, Alaska and Mexico. At one time he held a private pilot's license.
Van Konynenburg is survived by his wife, Diana; son, Chris Vieira and his wife Nicole, all of Livermore; and son, Mike Vieira and his wife Jen of Seattle; two grandchildren, Edward Christopher Vieira and David Anthony Vieira; brother Frank of Calistoga, Calif.; sister, Henrietta Van Konynenburg, and her husband, Tom, of Indiana; sister, Gertrude Leachman, and her husband Ron, of Tracy; and many nieces and nephews in the Modesto area.
He is preceded in death by his father in 1990 and mother in 2001.
Visitation and viewing will be held Oct. 4, from 5-8 p.m. at Salas Bros. Funeral Home, 419 Scenic Drive, Modesto.
A traditional grave-side service, followed by a military honor service will be conducted Oct. 5 at 1 p.m. at Lakewood Memorial Park, 900 Santa Fe Ave., Hughson, Calif. A reception will follow from 2-4 p.m. at the Fellowship Hall of the First United Methodist Church, 850 16th Street (near I St.) in Modesto.
A memorial and celebration of Konynenburg's life will be held Oct. 6 at 10:30 a.m. at Cornerstone Fellowship, 348 North Canyons Parkway, Livermore. A luncheon will follow the memorial service. Location and directions will be provided at the service.
