Lody Gompers

For as many years as I can remember, Lody opened the L.A. Times and read the obituaries first. He felt an admiration for the stories and tributes within. It is with loving reverence for his appreciation of those stories that he should be honored with his own.

Lody’s life began as World War II was starting in 1939. He and his twin sister Frieda were born in Amsterdam to Izak & Lea van Bergen. His birth name was Salomon van Bergen. The Nazis occupied the Netherlands in 1940 and by 1941 it was no longer safe for the family to stay together. With the help of a Christian uncle, who worked for the underground in the Dutch resistance, the twins were put into hiding. It was during this time, Salomon became Lody. Once in hiding, the twins were separated to keep them each safe. While their parents and most of the family succumbed to the genocide, the twins survived because of the care they received from many people who put their own lives on the line to protect them.

Lody lived for some time with “Aunt” Wil and “Uncle” Wim who took him into their home, presenting him as their nephew. Over the years he remembered sitting on the back of a bicycle and being taken quickly from house to house when the soldiers came into town. As the war dragged on, Uncle Wim had to go into hiding. During that time Wim was able to place Lody in the Reformed Orphanage in Haarlem and he remained there until his adoption in 1946. These memories that Lody kept at a distance for a long time, even from himself, were in stark contrast to the man that he presented to the world.

When the war ended Lody and Frieda were reunited and adopted by Sonny & Lou Gompers. In 1950 the Gompers family immigrated to the United States, boarding the New Amsterdam, and sailing to New York. Then very memorably they drove cross-country to California. Lody often talked about that journey. He always said, “It was a stroke of luck that his parents settled in Santa Monica.” He liked growing up in this town so close to Venice beach, Hollywood, and Beverly Hills. He quickly learned English. He graduated from Santa Monica High and Cal State Northridge, married Sandy, and had two sons: Brandon and Dana. The van Bergen family lineage continued.

In 1997 Lody was contacted by the Dutch Embassy in Washington, D.C., advising him that an older sibling he had not known existed was searching for him and Frieda. Suddenly they had a half-sister and a beautiful family of nieces and nephews in the Netherlands! An extraordinary gift. The trips back and forth to Holland were important times of discovery, and he was able to reunite and spend time with his war parent Aunt Wil. Seeing her again, now as a grown man, was an experience he treasured.

The Lody and Andrea story started in September 1990, at the Sand & Sea Club in Santa Monica — just as it was preparing to shut down. Fate brought us together at the beach that day. From that moment on we had a rhythm. After a lengthy engagement, and in true Lody Gompers fashion, on the way to Gelson’s one day, we got married. Lody enjoyed a wide genre of music which became the soundtrack for our time together. We looked forward to catching up at the end of each day, having our cocktail hour and talking about what was happening in our lives, the family, and in the world. Lody was a ‘Martini Man’, and he made a great one.

Lody worked in his family’s import business and then commercial real estate, which he really enjoyed. But what he did for a living was not who he was. A smart, curious, clever, and humorous man who thoroughly enjoyed social repartee; he could tell a tale. He rarely met a stranger who he did not engage in conversation with. He loved the beach and his Corvette; our long Sunday drives were little vacations. He enjoyed the lore and legend of old Hollywood. He gave a great tour of Los Angeles pointing out famous locations that are still there and some that are not. He was fun! He was a student of history and liked to discuss politics. He enjoyed PBS, NPR, stories about nature and astronomy, and he was a news ‘junkie’. He always rooted for the underdog, the downtrodden, and the underserved.

Lody will be dearly missed by Brandon & Janice Gompers, Dana & Veronica Gompers, Jason & Cezanne and Jenny Youmazzo. He could be a silly grandfather “Babalo” to Gabriela (Gigi) and Dylan Gompers, and to Alexandra, Annabella, Adi Joy and Ava Youmazzo. He will be missed by his sister Frieda & Ron Strambini, his nieces Susan and Sharon and their families, Rich & Tina Rynveld, Sandy Gompers, Ivonne, Geoff, Janine, Benjamin and their families in Holland. Lifelong friends and dear acquaintances will remember him with his sweet, bittersweet, loving and funny stories.

As an homage to Lody and the legends of music, comedy, Hollywood and the arts that he enjoyed so much, a private service was held at Pierce Brothers Mortuary in Westwood, and it was raining; he would have loved these metaphors.

I miss you my love,

Blow me a kiss through the trees,

Send hugs in the breeze…

AG

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.pbwvmortuary.com for the Gompers family.