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Tromp; Bernardus (Ben) Aloysius Franciscus - Ben was born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands on June 24, 1928. He grew up in Amsterdam, leaving the city for the country to work on a farm during the war, where his mother felt he’d be safer and have food to eat. He studied airplane mechanics, and spent a couple of years with the Dutch military. On December 21, 1951 Ben married his best friend Willemina Reijnierse, and in 1953 they immigrated to Canada together in search of adventure and new opportunity. After arriving in Toronto with very little money and without a good command of the English language, Ben and Willie worked together to adapt, to learn, and to build a comfortable and loving family and community in their new country. Ben’s first permanent job was with De Havilland Aircraft of Canada in Toronto as an aircraft assembler. In 1959, he joined Central Airways Ltd. (Toronto Island Airport) as an aircraft maintenance engineer, and was later promoted to Chief Aircraft Maintenance Engineer. It was also in 1959 that Ben and Willie bought their first home on Buena Vista Avenue in Agincourt, where they stayed for over 30 years and raised their family. From 1978 to his retirement in 1990 Ben was the Chief Aircraft Maintenance Engineer for Seneca College, and in the last couple of years, he also taught classes to college students. Ben and Willie had a close network of dear friends, many of whom had also emigrated from Holland. They stayed connected to family and close friends here in Ontario and in the Netherlands, through letters, phone calls, and visits, and in later years through e-mails and Skype, and hosted many visits of relatives here to Canada as well.

Ben and Willie moved to Napanee in 1990 to enjoy their retirement years together and they built a wonderful life here. Ben was part of the Napanee Tennis Association and played doubles regularly into his early 80s. Ben enjoyed the open road and was passionate about their camper and the outdoors. In his later years Ben loved going for day trips in his car with Willie, often without a specific destination in mind, but usually with a stop at a Tim Horton’s somewhere. At home Ben was a builder and a creative problem solver and he could rig or fix almost anything. He loved woodworking, and dabbled in oil painting. Until the very end, he was always challenging himself to learn new things. Ben and Willie had a special bond with their neighbours, Rob and Linda Koshelanyk, who became dear friends and a great source of support to them.

Ben was a kind, thoughtful and humble man. He was a loving husband to Willemina – they were virtually inseparable for their 65 plus years of marriage; he was a wonderful father to his two daughters, Elizabeth (Betty) Tromp of Ottawa and Jeanne Tromp of Toronto, and a proud and loving Opa to granddaughters Elyssa Tromp Loewen of Guelph and Adriana Tromp Loewen of Ottawa. He supported and encouraged them all to trust in their abilities and be the best they can be. He had close bonds with his sons-in-law, Mike Loewen and Barry Moss, with whom he could share his love of all things mechanical. His gentle sense of humour and playfulness brought constant giggles to our family – we will miss that. He was our protector, our biggest fan, and our hero. Words are not enough to express how much he will be missed.

Willemina, Elizabeth and Jeanne would like to thank the Lennox and Addington Seniors Outreach Services, and the nurses in Acute Care at Lennox and Addington County General Hospital for all the loving support, care and companionship they provided through Ben’s latter months and days respectively. Ben passed away peacefully with family by his side on Sunday, July 30, 2017 in his 90th year. Arrangements entrusted to Wartman Funeral Home - Napanee Chapel. Aquamation has already taken place. Donations by cheque or credit card to the Lennox and Addington Seniors Outreach Services (SOS), the Lennox and Addington County General Hospital Foundation or the Parkinson’s Society are appreciated by the family. On-line condolences at www.wartmanfuneralhomes.com

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