Wednesday, December 11, 2024
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In memory of neef (cousin) Steve,
My cousin Steve came to visit me in Amsterdam back in February 1990, together with his good friend Ash.
For about 10 days or so, we roamed the streets visiting bars, restaurants, clubs, markets, museums, his mother's old Amsterdam house where she (and my mother) grew up in the late thirties and early forties and visited a match of his maternal granddad's favourite team: Ajax, in the now defunct Olympic Stadium of the city.
Two images (of many) of that visit are attached here - one of Steve on my traditional Dutch 'Opoe fiets' (Granny bike) and, with Ash, eating a raw herring on the local (and famous) Albert Cuijp market (good hangover cure! Although I recall now that it didn't really did the trick for Steve...).
His visit is a highlight of the many memories I have of my cousin Steve. He warmly welcomed me during my first trip to Canada in 1989 and introduced me (as he did with many of his Dutch family I believe) to Wilderness Tours and made sure I had the full experience. In and outside the rafts...
We stayed in touch and it resulted in his trip to Amsterdam the year after.
In 1992 I spent a few months in Toronto working in a local bar/restaurant close to Eglinton Avenue. I made a fool of myself not recognising frequent visitor Eddy Shack of the Maple Leafs. Steve had moved there and made me feel welcome and supported me throughout and patiently smiled at his European cousin's regular ignorance of Canadian affairs. A longer stay wasn't to be and I went back to the Netherlands. We stayed in touch for a while but life choices and careers got the upper hand and we lost contact, hearing an occasional update via his mother when she spoke to mine.
And here I am writing on Steve's obituary page which is very harsh and confronting. But the memories are genuine, and are fond ones, joyful ones, making me smile amidst the sorrow of his passing.
May the many memories of 'neef' Steve over time be a blessing. With love to all of you. From Steve's cousin, Diderik
