Fedderius Gerardus DE JONG

de JONG, Fedderius Gerardus (Fred) Born October 18, 1933 Amsterdam, The Netherlands passed away quietly after a courageous battle with cancer on July 31, 2008 in Ottawa. Born in a Catholic family with 8 children in needy prewar times he has managed to turn his life a real success story. After completing the Military Academy in The Netherlands he and his former wife Rietje moved to Canada to seek a better life. Starting from scratch working as a gardener in his first job he has moved up to top managerial jobs at reputable companies, such as Canada Post. He has trotted the world almost like Jules Verne's famous character but a little longer than 80 days as a renowned United Nations expert in computer science, helping countries like Hungary, Rumania, former Yugoslavia and India to help build their own computer systems in the 70's and early 80's. He had worked as a freelance postal technology consultant before he retired and devoted his life to taking care of his beloved sick first wife, mother of Pieternella and Neils. Fred was a strong and loving character who cared about everything and everybody around him. He had principles, discipline, honesty and a very strong sense of morality. He was in many ways bigger than life. He is deeply mourned by his second wife Judit, children Pieternella and Neils, grandchildren Orelie and Marietje, son-in-law Ramon, brother Gerard, sisters Nelly, Gemma, Ank, Betty and Marijke, brother-in-laws Jan and Henny, sister-in-law Tini, Judit's son Martin, his best friends the Sury's, the Botman's and the Thomson's. The funeral ceremony will take place on his birthday on October 18 in Bergen Op Zoom, The Netherlands. Requiescat in pace. Condolences may be made at lehnerj@rogers.com Published in the Ottawa Citizen on 8/9/2008