René François D’Hollander passed peacefully on May 21, 2019 in Victoria, BC. He was born February 24, 1936 in Etterbeek, Belgium.
René is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Ruth; their two sons, Raymond (Shirley) and Roger (Karen); and grandchildren, Lauren, Mark, Rachel, Robyn, Natalie, and Kelsey.
René grew up in Etterbeek (Brussels), Belgium, experiencing the Nazi occupation during World War II. Shortly after the war, an emaciated René was sent by the Red Cross to Roskilde, Denmark to be “fattened up”. This experience was to have an enormous influence in René’s life including a love of travel. During his teen years, he visited many places in Europe by bicycle, including returning to Denmark to visit the family who cared for him there.
René did his early education in both Flemish and French. For higher education, he joined the Belgian military in the Royal Military Academy 94th Promotion in 1954. In 1955, he was selected to do naval officer training with the Royal Canadian Navy in the HMCS Venture Class of 1957. On completion of his naval officer training in 1959, he was an officer on board the former minesweeper HMCS WALLACEBURG, renamed LECOINTE when it was transferred to the Belgian Navy. In 1960, on board LECOINTE, he participated in rescuing Belgian nationals caught in the riots associated with the independence of the Belgian Congo (now Democratic Republic of Congo). René then served on minesweepers based in Ostend, Belgium until he left the Navy in 1963.
René and Ruth met in Victoria and were married in North Vancouver in 1958. Their son, Raymond, was born in Victoria in 1959 and their second son, Roger, was born in Ostend in 1961.
After leaving the Belgian Navy and moving to North Vancouver, BC, René worked in computers and management information systems in Vancouver and Montreal. In the years before formal computer science courses were offered in colleges and universities, Rene began this stage of his working life by programming at BC Forest Products and BC Packers. He then took on system development and management at Canada Cement Lafarge (now Lafarge Canada), first in Vancouver, then at its corporate office in Montreal. In 1982-83, he earned his Master of Management Science as a Sloan Fellow at the Sloan School of Management at MIT in Boston. Subsequently, he returned to Vancouver to develop and manage the information systems at Loomis Courier Service. His development of the Loomis system and waybill was ground-breaking for the courier industry. In the early 90’s, he started his own firm, CONEXSYS, pioneering an integrated system for bar-code based management, registration and lead retrieval for conventions, exhibitions, trade and public shows.
René and Ruth retired to Victoria, completing the circle of moves in their loving relationship. During retirement, he was passionate about his role in reconciliation with First Nations and was a member of Aboriginal Neighbours. He especially enjoyed his volunteer work in helping children learn French at Ecole Macaulay Elementary School and the Saute Mouton pre-school.
René loved and was proud of his family and was a friend to many. His warmth, unique sense of humour and genuine kind heart will live on in the hearts of many.
A Private Celebration of René’s Life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations will be gratefully received by the Victoria Hospitals Foundation www.victoriahf.ca.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
Obituary for Rene Francois D’Hollander of Victoria, BC.
15 Responses
Dear Ruth
My sincere condolences to you and your family on the loss of your
dear Rene. Harry and I often talked about our visit with you. My
children still talk about our search for my school.
I do believe that life should be celebrated. Please let me know when
this is taking place. I am still planning the possibility of one more trip
to Vancouver.
With my fondest regards.
Miriam Levinson
We were saddened to hear of Rene’s passing and send our sincere condolences and remember you in our prayers at this difficult time in your life. It was fortunate that we were able to visit with you both at the end of March and enjoy a meal and fellowship together. Rene was a gentle kind man and carried a dignity about him that defined him as a true gentleman. He will certainly be missed when we visit you next year.
Our thoughts are with you ….. May God bless you and keep you …..
Barbara and Don
Dear Ruth, I am sorry for our terrible loss! I am glad to read that he got a chance to connect with the family for a final farewell. I truly hope that our good friend is resting in peace, and that you find peace and strength in this new path!
My temporary training in Victoria is over; I am sad that in the few months that I was at the island we couldn’t connect. I return to Alberta now. I will try to make sometime in the future hoping this year to visit you; I hope we could connect soon.
All the best always, and if there is anything in this world that I could do for you, please I hope you don’t hesitate in contact me.
Some time after Joyce died and I had learned how difficult it is for friends to find the right words of sympathy,I happened to be reading one of Pat Barker’s novels and stumbled on this quotation:”She would never, never, never be able to accept his death, and she didn’t try. This wasn’t an illness she would recover from; it was an amputation she had to learn to live with. There was a great and surprising peace in acknowledging this” It helped me and I offer it for whatever it may say to you at this sad time. So glad to have had the gift of another share of your warm hospitality last October. Do keep in touch.
Dear Ruth:
I am so very sorry to learn of Rene’s passing. I am fortunate to have known both of you and been in your presence over the years. Rene’ was such a kind and gentle man and welcomed so many people into his home and heart. He will be so missed by his family and friends. It is hoped the many connections you had in the community will help you through the difficult weeks and months ahead.
Sincere condolences,
Dear Ruth and family:
It was a privilege to have had Rene as a dear friend and we will always remember and miss his sense of humour, the twinkle in his eye and our many conversations with him on so many varied topics.
Our sincere sympathy to Ruth and family on the loss of Rene.
Robin and Maureen Applewhaite
VERENIGING VAN DE MARINEOFFICIEREN b.d.
We hebben met diepe droefheid het overlijden in Victoria, B.C., Canada op 21 mei 2019 van onze oud-collega René D’Hollander vernomen.
We bieden de getroffen families onze oprechte gevoelens van medeleven aan.
Jean-Pol Hosdain
Fregatkapitein b.d.
Voorzitter
ASSOCIATION DES OFFICIERS DE LA MARINE e.r.
Nous venons d’apprendre avec une profonde tristesse le décès à Victoria, B.C., Canada le 21 mai 2019 de notre ancien collègue René D’Hollander.
Nous présentons aux familles éprouvées nos sincères condoléances.
Jean-Pol Hosdain
Capitaine de frégate e.r.
Président
Dear Ruth,
I was sorry to hear of Rene’s passing. He was a kind and gracious gentleman.
My sincere condolences.
Faith
Sending my deepest condolence in memory of Rene to Ruth and the D’Hollander Family.
Dear Ruth,
I remember with gratitude the celebrations of Canada Day my late husband Charlie and I spent with you, Rene and your extensive circles of friends and neighbours. Rene was a gracious and delightful host, a gentle and tender man. He will be deeply missed and mourned, but well remembered by those of us privileged to be your guests. We all live more thoughtfully and deeply because of him.
Mary Louise