Dick is a two-time National Champion sailor, a jet aircraft and helicopter pilot, and an avid biker. Dick has an adventurous spirit, and his interests reflect this. Many of his hobbies connect several generations of the DeVos family.
Dick’s father, Rich, introduced him to flying and sailing. In fact, before beginning Amway, Rich and his business partner, Jay Van Andel, opened Wolverine Air Service, a flight school near Grand Rapids. Similarly, Rich and Jay also set out on an ambitious mission to sail South America – despite neither having sailing experience. They purchased a 38-foot Schooner and sailed the Eastern Seaboard on a southern course until their leaking boat sank off the coast of Cuba.
Dick’s love of cycling, sailing, and flying has only grown with time as he has completed a couple of his life goals with family and loved ones.
In 2021 Dick celebrated his 65th birthday by completing a Century Ride with family and friends. The group rode 100 miles together from Cadillac, Michigan to downtown Grand Rapids on the White Pine Trail.
Dick and his wife Betsy have sailed the Great Loop, a trip that includes part of the Atlantic, Gulf Intracoastal Waterways, the Great Lakes, Canadian Heritage Canals, and inland rivers.
In 2023, Dick and Betsy also completed a trip flying around the world where Dick piloted the plane – a bucket list accomplishment for him.
In the winter, one of Dick’s favorite hobbies is skiing. He has been a lifelong skiier, which has taught him valuable life lessons.
“I love to ski powder snow in the back country,” Dick said. “This often involves skiing through the trees, which initially concerned me a great deal. That is until a friend of mine pointed out that if you only see the trees, you will find lots of obstacles in front of you. But if you look for the openings, you will be surprised how many options are available.”
Dick DeVos enjoying one of his favorite wintertime activities.