Herman Jacques van Norden

Dr. Herman Jacques van Norden died peacefully in his sleep in Vancouver on the 17th of August 2021, a few weeks after his 101st birthday. He is survived by his children Sophia, Wilma and Simon, as well as his grandchildren Clare, Alex and Natalie.

Born 26 July 1920 in Amsterdam to Simon van Norden and Sophia van Norden (née de Metz), Herman was raised in a strictly Orthodox Jewish household. His early life was hard; his father died when he was four, and his medical studies were interrupted by the invasion and occupation of the Netherlands in 1940. While most Amsterdam Jews died in concentration camps, Herman managed to survive in hiding with the help of the Dutch underground. Despite his attempts to convince his mother to join him, she refused, and eventually was killed in Auschwitz.

Following the partial liberation of the Netherlands in 1944, Herman met Jacoba (later, Julia) Wouters at a meeting in Utrecht for potential medical students. They married in 1949 and, after finishing their medical studies, moved to Vancouver, BC where they established a joint medical practice in 1953 at the corner of 49th Ave E. and Victoria Dr. Following the birth of their third child in 1960, they were joined by Julia’s parents Willem and Geraldina. Vancouver smiled on them; their medical practice flourished, as did their children. Herman joined Mensa, the Men’s Canadian Club, attended concerts, played chess, and avidly followed politics. He was a voracious reader of history, philosophy and science, and a lover of photography, travel and mathematical puzzles.

Herman retired in 1989, attended lectures at the Vancouver Institute, and took adult education courses at UBC. He mourned his wife’s passing in 2008 and quietly spent his remaining years at Crofton Manor, where he recently celebrated his 101st birthday with his three children.

His family would like to thank the staff at Crofton Manor for the excellent care he received.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Louis Brier Jewish Aged Foundation (BN: 118974302RR0001) are encouraged.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.firstmemorialnorthvancouver.com for the van Norden family.