Vance Thomas Jordan, age 69, died on April 30, 2026. He is survived by his wife Linda Jordan, daughter Valin Jordan (husband Matthew and daughter Dani), his mother Helen Jordan, his sister Stephanie Deas, his brother Kevin Jordan (wife Kyle), and a number of cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Born on August 29, 1956 in Harlem, NY to Helen and Eugene (deceased) Jordan, Vance came into the world ready to change it through creative thinking and breaking the rules. Vance was not one for doing things the way others wanted him to (his way was always right), nor was he one to wait for permission. He was a quiet and reflective man, but was known to be loud and boisterous when the situation called for it. He was never one to back down from a fight or back down from a challenge. Vance always knew who he was and who he wanted to be.

Vance was a man of many talents. He was a member of the Screen Actors Guild; in the late 70s he starred in three commercials - two for ProKeds and one for Pepsi. He was incredibly athletic both as a football player and track athlete - he shined as a long jumper and triple jumper. In 1975 he was the New York State High School Long Champion, that same year he also won the long jump at the Loucks Games. In 1976 he won the long jump at the AAU national meet, in 1977 he won the long and the triple jump at the AAU national meet, and in 1978 he set a meet record in the triple jump at an Olympic development meet held at Brown University. To round out his many athletic accomplishments and talents, he was a member of one of the USA Bobsled teams and competed in the trials for both the 1980 and 1984 Winter Olympics.

As luck and love would have it, during his days of competing he met a woman, Linda Williams, who he dated for six years before they married in 1985. As a couple they enjoyed a good party or cookout together, but also relished in quiet moments like going for bike rides. They had one daughter, Valin Jordan, who is her father’s twin in personality (in some ways). Vance poured a fair amount of attention into his wife and daughter, and made sure his daughter tapped into her athletic abilities as a long jumper and triple jumper as well.

Vance was his daughter’s coach when she competed for a club track team and once she got to high school he took over her high school team. He coached with The Mary Louis Academy Catholic High School for 18 years – long after his daughter had graduated! While he didn’t always enjoy the early mornings and long days at track meets, he changed lives and helped raise some of the most confident and awe-inspiring young women this world will ever know. During the time he coached, no one knew he was in the fight for his life.

In 2012, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He kept that information close to home because he did not believe cancer defined him and he was a man who believed you must be careful of what you put out into the universe. Vance chose to fight and live and so he did, for 14 years! In 2020 he was told the cancer was at stage four, but he continued to fight and live - going on vacation, fishing, golfing, joining the Sandy Branch Volunteer Fire Department, walking his daughter down the aisle, and welcoming his first granddaughter. As previously stated, the rules weren’t written for him. He fought for his life for 14 years and it’s 14 years that many of us will always remember having with him. Vance did live by one simple rule though, “Claim it. And it will be yours!”