Jere Bare Kenderdine, 77, of Lancaster, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 30, 2020, at Hospice & Community Care, Mount Joy. He had multiple myeloma for seven years, complicated by vascular dementia.
Born in Lancaster, he was the son of Myrtle Addah Bare Kenderdine and Leonard Vernon Kenderdine, Sr.
Jere graduated from Manheim Township High School in 1961 and from Millersville State Teacher’s College in 1965 with a degree in elementary education. He earned a master’s in Education Administration from Temple University. Over the course of 30 years, he built his career around educating children, first as a classroom teacher and later as building principal in elementary schools of the School District of Lancaster.
Jere was an all-around athlete. He competed in triathlons and motorcycle hillclimbing.
He received numerous accolades in wrestling while in high school, remaining an undefeated wrestler in his senior year and district champion as well as playing varsity football. While at Millersville he received the coveted Rupp Cup for wrestling. Following college, he participated in YMCA wrestling and coached at J. P. McCaskey High School and Manheim Township High School. Following in his footsteps, his sons and grandsons were active wrestlers during their high school years.
An avid and accomplished outdoorsman, Jere loved an adventure. He traveled to Canada and Alaska many times to hunt and fish, mentoring extended family members in the fine art of survival in the wild. A trip with Jere was both an adventure and an education.
Jere knew how to be a friend, evidenced by his long-term relationships with friends from childhood and high school. Above all, his family was important. He looked forward to annual family vacations to Bethany Beach, Delaware. Sometimes there were over 20 people crammed into a tiny cottage to enjoy the sun and surf and family interaction. Jere had a cabin in Cumberland county where family members walked pets, hiked, hunted, canoed, fished, watched birds, and shared holiday meals, thus instilling the love of the outdoors in future generations.
Jere is survived by two sons, Jeffrey Scott Kenderdine and his wife, Sandra, of Lancaster, and Victor Anthony Kenderdine of Lancaster; two grandsons, Brooks Foster Kenderdine and Colby Dylan Kenderdine; four siblings, Linda Lou Freisher of Lancaster, Leonard Vernon Kenderdine, Jr., of Lancaster, James Raymond Kenderdine (Linda) of Manheim, and Kathryn Lee Peris of Lancaster; and his numerous beloved nieces and nephews and their families.
We as a family wish to express our love for Jere. We will miss his presence here on earth. He has now been received home to our Savior Jesus Christ who created this beautiful world Jere cherished.
In observance of COVID-19 restrictions, a private graveside service will be held. We express gratitude for the professionals who cared for Jere—including caregivers in his home from Connections at Home via Willow Valley, the ABBCI staff and support group, and hospice care. Memorial contributions may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (www.lls.org) or The Willow Valley Communities Charitable Foundation Memory Care. To leave an online condolence for the family, please visit: www.CremationLancasterPA.com
I had the pleasure of wrestling with Jere all through college. He was one tough wrestler and we had many enjoyable times going to wrestling matches for 4 years. He was one guy I always wanted on my side. I’m sorry that I was just informed of his death almost a year later. We both had a match between McCaskey and Marple Newtown back in I believe 1970 and we were both coaching those teams at the time. That was the last time I saw Jere. Rest in Peace.
I was a teacher and Mr. Kenderdine was my principal. He was a supportive man and I loved working with him. I left teaching in 1998. So sorry for delay in honoring his life.
Our love and prayers for the Kenderdine family. We did not know Jere. He sounds like an amazing man who will be missed. We know he is at peace and pain free now. God bless and comfort all of you he left behind.
Mr. Kenderdine was my 4th grade teacher at Mifflin Elementary. I also knew him as the McCaskey HS Wrestling coach. As a 4th grader, we were all amazed by him. He was so much fun in the classroom. Always had a smile and had a great sense of humor. My condolences to his family, may he Rest In Peace.
I will forever remember Mr Kenderdine I cared for him thru Connections at Home Willow Valley.
he was such a generous soul and he loved Nature,we would sit and wached the birds, and he would teach me of all the diferent species and there habitats, forever a teacher.
I had the honor and pleasure of being with Jere as one of his caregivers through Connections at Home. This man truly touched my heart and I will miss him so very much. All of the talks and laughter that we shared will be something that I will hold onto forever. Thinking of the family at this time – sending my deepest condolences.
DEEPEST CONDOLENCE TO A TRUE FRIEND,SINCERE SYMPATHY TO THE FAMILY…THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU TAUGHT US. CORNY AND TONY CUNNINGHAM
I grew to know Jere when my son Cortlandt was in high school and Jere was a joy to be around. He also followed my other sons on the mat and I often tried to sit next to him at every wrestling event we followed. He was as excited to see the township wrestlers win as much as their families were. He appreciated each kid and found things about them to praise. I enjoyed hearing his stories about his teaching days and also about his work as a principal. He understood the challenges many kids and families faced in Lancaster City and from listening to people that knew him, he was a caring and understanding principal for many years. For me the one thing that stood out was that Jere appreciated people and found ways to see the good in kids, regardless of where they were in their journey at that time. He always had a smile and always wanted to know how things were going whenever we met. I will miss him as will the rest of my family.
I send my love and prayers to all of you. I did not know Jere much (his sister Kathryn was closer to my age), but it sounds like he loved life, adventure, friends and family, and accomplished much.