Achiel Ludovicus Rawoens

Achiel L. Rawoens, one of three children, was born in Ghent, Belgium, on August 17th, 1931. He had two sisters, Marcella and Ginette. He was known to much of his family as 'Pipa,' coined by his first grandson, Phillip Rios. Early on, the Rawoens family lived through the Nazi Occupation of Ghent. Achiel was a well-rounded youth that thrived in academics, sports, and the arts. He proved an adept mathematician and a young virtuoso on the piano and violin. He overcame childhood back issues to grow into an exceptional football player (soccer, not American football, which Achiel famously called 'handball wrestling'), even landing a spot on Ghent's semi-professional team. After his football career, Achiel joined the Belgian Army, where he utilized his math and science skills to decode messages and radio communications as a cryptographer. Achiel and Maria Justina Piesen (d. 4/6/2017) (known by many friends as 'Mipeko' and as 'Oma' to their grandchildren) married in 1956 and promptly relocated to Washington, D.C., where Achiel took on the role of Diplomatic Attaché in Communications for the Belgian Embassy. He was trained on the Enigma machine of WWII fame early in his career and went on to maintain coding machines in Belgian embassies worldwide. Achiel and Maria shared a passion for traveling. Because his job required regular travel, he took them, and often their two daughters, Cynthia and Melinda, all over Europe, Asia, Central, and South America, and nearly all of the U.S. (including Alaska and Hawaii). The Rawoens family often avoided the well-worn touristy spots. Instead, they went off the beaten path to explore every village and landmark to indulge in more authentic experiences. The two had one last trip and did it big by visiting the Great Wall of China. Achiel had many hobbies and interests, including art, music, cooking, gardening, and antiques. As a fervent art enthusiast, he mainly admired his great uncle, the Belgian impressionist painter Jean Colin, whose paintings adorned the Rawoens' home. In addition to visual art, Achiel passionately studied classical music and compiled a dense library of his favorite composers, including Beethoven, Bach, Pavarotti, and Tchaikovsky. However, he was never a big jazz fan and claimed that the band always sounded like they were 'just warming up. Achiel harbored a deep appreciation for quality food from all the countries they visited. He could replicate almost any dish he tried, and often, his version would come out even tastier. His cooking skills were so impressive that a close friend offered him financial backing to open a restaurant in D.C., but he declined, knowing the restaurant business is a 24-hour commitment. Anyone who saw the Rawoens' house in Annandale could speak to their gorgeous and thriving yard. Achiel loved cultivating a uniquely vibrant garden and then spent his mornings studying the birds and bees that benefitted from it. The Rawoens took home their fair share of antiques on their travels. From ornate grandfather clocks requiring regular maintenance to Alaskan mammals carved out of stone, their interior decor was always eclectic and expertly curated, with each piece telling a story. When not tending to his hobbies or garden, Achiel thoroughly enjoyed watching the Belgian national football team on TV (though he never minced words when they played terribly). Achiel had no shortage of close friends with whom he'd trade stories and enjoy a few Belgian beers or a Tanqueray gin and tonic. He did a stellar job of keeping up with his friends' lives and cared for them deeply, made apparent by the revolving door of visitors to the Rawoens' home throughout the decades. His peaceful nature and easy likeability followed him to The Gardens Assisted Living Community, where he told his exciting life stories to new friends and staff over games of Bingo. Most friends and family in Achiel's life knew he was a man of tall tales that were actually true (or so he said!). The way he eloquently spun his stories was awe-inspiring to witness, even in his last weeks. While serving in the Belgian Army as a cryptographer in 1953, Achiel engaged in rescue efforts during the infamous North Sea Storm in Holland (a natural disaster comparable to Hurricane Katrina). He commandeered trucks through flooded lands to set up communication networks to enable lifesaving efforts. Our Achiel accomplished these heroic acts without knowing how to swim. He held a Belgian Army speed record for 'crossing a stream by rope.' When asked how he executed this feat so quickly, he replied, "I had to, or else I would've drowned!" If you can believe it, Achiel was struck by lightning, not once, but twice! His first brush with hot electricity happened when he was a child in Belgium. He was near a farmer's field and recalled waking up surrounded by dead cows. The second occurrence was inside a radio tower while serving in the Army. Despite ordering the windows shut during the storm, one remained open. Achiel was near the center of the room and witnessed his unfolded newspaper turn to ashes while simultaneously losing his eyebrows. Achiel is survived by his sister, Ginette Rawoens, his niece, Marlene Debaerdemaker, and nephew, Wim Jansen; his daughters, Cynthia Rios and Melinda Ardinger, son-in-laws Mark Rios and Keith Ardinger; grandchildren Phillip Rios (spouse Laura Rios), Andrew Rios (spouse Kaley Rios), Mitch Ardinger (spouse Lexi Ardinger), Mackenzie Ardinger, and great-grandchildren Maddie and Riley Rios. There's no question that Achiel lived a long, fruitful, and fulfilling life, but he will be missed by many, and his stories and character will live on forever. "I see you one of these days," he would say. In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to Vitas Hospice at 3261 Blenheim Blvd, Suite 200 Attn Jennifer, Fairfax VA 22030. A reception is to follow the service at 10621 Oliver Street, Fairfax VA, 22030.