Van Aken / Van Auken in Sports

 From Marilyn Van Aken Lawrence: I was watching the Olympics yesterday and they did a story on an American snowboarder named Tricia Byrnes which included a brief interview with her coach, Heath Van Aken. What a neat surprise!

HEATH VAN AKEN, ASSISTANT FREESTYLE COACH: US Snowboard Team
Heath Van Aken joined the U.S. Snowboard Team staff as an assistant coach during the 1996 season. A former alpine racer, Van Aken grew up in the Whitefish, Montana area. He got into coaching while attending Central Oregon Community College. Van Aken lives in Bend, Oregon and enjoys climbing, fishing and mountain biking.
 

Heath is descended from Marinus Van Aken from Zevenbergen, NL, b 1841. Marinus married Henricka Van Beek and they had 9 children: Antonia, Henrica, Peterus, Pius, Cornelius M (moved to Whitefish MT and then to NY), Chris (moved to NY, then BC, then to NY, Koos, Gerrit (moved to BC), Herman (moved to Whitefish). Heath is most likely descended from Herman.