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When Tom Dandridge and his late wife Lynn moved to Grand Rapids in 1997, the move was supposed to be temporary. But a passion for gardening, a commitment to community, and a circle of friends-turned-family would plant Tom and Lynn's roots firmly in West Michigan.

Tom was a professor at the University at Albany when he met Lynn while hiking in the Adirondacks. "We met on a mountain and went on several hikes together. She was always faster than me, so we'd see each other at a rest stop or at the top," says Tom.

The couple wed in 1996 and a year later, a career move took them to Grand Rapids. For Tom, who'd lived all over the world, this was just another move. But it was Lynn's first time moving out of New York, and for her it was emotional.

As they settled into their new city, Lynn began volunteering at several local organizations, including North Country Trail, where she earned her chainsaw certification, as well as Blandford Nature Center, and Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.

"By 2000, she was fully involved in these organizations, and busy getting her Michigan Naturalist certification from Michigan State University, so we decided to stay," says Tom.

Inspired by her passion, Tom began volunteering at Meijer Gardens in 2001 by driving the tram. "I really enjoyed when I could drive and narrate at the same time. I tried to give an entertaining and safe experience. It was a pleasure serving the public."

Eventually, Tom moved indoors, apprenticing with a group known as "Paul's Sprouts" – the first group of volunteers working for Paul Gilmet, the original developer of the orchid collection. Meanwhile, Lynn took her love of gardening to the Japanese Gardens, where she could often be found working beside her close friend, Tina Cronkite. The inseparable pair even won two gardening awards. "Lynn's entire life revolved around gardening," says Tom. "We had a lovely home south of Rockford, and garden clubs would come tour. It was her pride and joy."

In 2020, Lynn became a member of the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Foundation Perennial Society with her generous gift establishing The Seasonal Planting Fund. "Lynn was a person unto herself. She said she wanted to donate to the outdoor horticulture area, so I told her I'd find out how. By the time I'd even gathered the information, she'd already sent her donation in," Tom laughs.

When Lynn passed in 2024, fittingly, her life was honored in a green burial ceremony at Ridgeview Memorial Gardens. Later, friends and family gathered to celebrate her life in the gardens she had so lovingly curated at home. Later, a plaque honoring Lynn was placed at Meijer Gardens, near the entry to the Japanese Garden as a lasting mark of her devotion to the outdoors.

After 25 years of volunteering, Tom still loves to see the excitement and awe of visitors as they experience Meijer Gardens' many exhibits and annual events.

He's also found a tight group of friends among the volunteers he and Lynn have worked closely with. "You give your time here, and you make close friends. The friends become a family." In 2025, Tom established his own generous gift to the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Foundation to become a member of the Perennial Society, preserving the legacy of Lynn's fund. He'll be honored at the Society Donor Recognition event in 2026.

"I really believe in the mission and the joy Meijer Gardens brings to people," says Tom. "This place is invaluable. It is rich in experience. And you don't have to be of wealth to be able to be part of this wonderful place. Whether it's your time in volunteering or it's money, the opportunity to contribute to the community and to make this place as rich as it can be is what makes your gifts worth giving."