Albert Reilingh

We would like to not grieve his passing but celebrate his amazing life. A period from almost the beginning of flight on earth to the flight on another planet (Mars). From a small Dutch community to traveling to every continent but one, having family on every one of them at one time, and having lived and worked on them for yourself.

He has lived at sea level (Leerdam, Holland and Jacksonville, Florida) to the high mountains (Bolivia), from the heat of African jungles (Liberia) to the cold of Canada(Val d’Or, Quebec). In Canada from Ocean to Ocean (New Castle, New Brunswick to Victoria, BC), four provinces in all (add Quebec and Ontario), and travelled through all the provinces.

He has travelled to many places in the world and lived through some of the most significant periods. His trip to the Czech Republic just before the soviet invasion, and the trip to Egypt (being caught in the airport in Egypt when Sadat went to Israel). His trip to Yugoslavia (riding horses and meeting his friend from Delft University in a back alley), Moscow in the middle of the cold war, Indonesia, and even here to visit me in China ( my students can still not believe that you traveled at 90 years old).

In his lifetime he was involved with the development of automation, from making assembly lines for Ford, GM and Chrysler to letter sorting machines for Canada Post, carousels for luggage (his were in the main terminal in Pearson Airport till they rebuilt it), to the sorting machines for steel in Hamilton.

He tried to improve the environment by working with the German Company to clean chimney smoke in factories just as the environmental movement was getting started.

Our father considered his greatest legacy to be his children. Their diversity is amazing. Living around the world at one time or another, Africa, China, Europe, the United States and across Canada, BC (Pender Island)and Ontario(Atikokan and Toronto). Lifestyles, cultures and outlooks so disparate. None of us are clones of each other. To each one you have given an opportunity to try different things.

Even though we have often disagreed, argued and been in conflict, the one thing we can say is that he loved each one of us. When there was a problem he always had our back and tried to help. We may often have felt your intrusions were not wanted but it was understood to be from the heart.

He is survived by his five children:

Reinout, Julia, Carolyn, Veronique and Albert

Grandchildren:

Aletia, Albert Peter Karl Alex, Misha, Nicholas Micheal, Antony

Jessica, Katarina, Ruth, Bjorn, Veronique, Karla Albert Jr.

Great Grandchildren:

Aneke, Jaxson Langley, Ryder Julie, Mark Hans

In conclusion, we are grateful for our one-of-a-kind father. He gave us so much: the good life, the opportunities and the many nuggets of advice (sometimes taken; often not) .

Written by his eldest son Reinout Reilingh