MEMORIES OF PIETER BREMMERS

I first met Pieter in 1974 when my husband and I purchased our first home.  It was in Johnsview Village and do you realize that Johnsview is the largest townhouse complex in North America.  Yes, it comprised 34 acres, 11 streets, 1 ½ miles of roads, 47 blocks of townhouses and over 1,700 trees.  Managing that size of complex was and is no easy feat and Pieter was the manager there for 16 years.
A few years later we started a family and Pieter enjoyed watching our children grow as he did with all the little ones in his Johnsview family.  He later asked me if I would like to work for him in the Management Office, but my husband and I had decided that I would stay at home until our youngest was in school full days.  I helped him interview other ladies and make the selection.  When Tim, our youngest started school full days, I started working for Pieter as his secretary/bookkeeper, as they were called back in those days.
I recall that every morning he would arrive at the office at about 10:00 a.m. carrying his briefcase, head bent down and shuffling his feet.  If he said anything it was either a grumble or grunt.  I would say “good morning smilie” but he wouldn’t answer.  Months and months and months and months went by with this routine.  Finally one morning he gave a smile and said good morning.  Thereafter, unless he was sick, he always said good morning.
Pieter taught me the condominium business.  He was thorough, detailed, and everything had to be done correct to every point.  Part of our job was to prepared monthly financial statements for the Board of Directors and following the Condominium Act of Ontario, we were audited annually.  For the nine years that I was there, the most the auditor found us to be out was $1.29.  I wonder how many businesses could say that today?  
Law was another large facet of our business.  Did you know that Pieter was one of the 3 men who drafted the first Condominium Act for Ontario?  Many a time we would be working on something legal and get into in deep discussions interpreting the Act.  On occasion we would telephone one of the other 2 men for their opinion. Most times Pieter was right, sometimes I was right, and sometimes the other man had a third interpretation.  Just like lawyers!
Over the years Pieter promoted me to Assistant Manager and after attending Humber College I received my R.C.M. designation.  Pieter had accumulated an extensive number of vacation days over the years.  Eventually the Board instructed that he must use up these vacation days.  He and the Board entrusted me with the task of managing Johnsview Village while Pieter went on numerous 6 week vacations. After 9 years I decided it was time to try working for a management company so I sent a resume to Del Property Management and they hired me immediately.  They tell me that I am one of their top managers (there are over 75) and I owe this to the training and experience that Pieter provided to me.  He was my mentor and I owe my career to him.
We kept in touch over the years.  He came to my house and joined my family for several dinners.  He often spoke of Saskia and Bart, reminiscing past moments of joy, pride and laughter.  He loved to tell about Saskia bringing home a pony and putting it in the backyard.  She also made friends with guard dogs while they were on duty.  He enjoyed watching Bart play hockey and was very proud of his success in business.  Bailey and Ben were the apples of his eyes and he loved having them crawl on his lap and watching them grow.  He also had many fond memories of Elly and he blamed himself for their martial problems.
Asked if he had the opportunity to live his life over again, what would he change?  He would spend more time with his family.

My uncle Piet was simply my favourite uncle.
I met him several times in Holland and he gave me also a sort of a feeling, how it feels to have a dad.
I lost my father when I was three.
We shared the same kind of humour and we had a lot of mutual intrests.
R.I.P.
Jos van Beest
the Netherlands

Mr. Pieter Bremmers was simply my favourite uncle.
I've met him several times and I believe we shared the same kind of humour and a lot of mutual intrests.
He also gave me kind of a feeling what it's like be for me, to have a father.
I lost my father when I was three, so I did'nt know that feeling. Uncle Pete gave me that feeling.
I will never forget him and may he rest in peace.
Jos van Beest
The Netherlands

We met Pieter in the 70's, when he became the manager of the Johnsview Village Townhouse complex, where we lived, and do still to this day. Dave was on the board of directors and had a long and memorable friendship with Pieter, he watched our children grow,up, always showing a keen interest in their lives. He also spoke often about his own son and daughter, and how proud he always was of their achievements in their lives. We saw him every fall at the Thornhill Village festival, as a member of the Rotary Club, always involved with the community and the people of Thornhill. I t was a sad day for us when he retired from his managerial position in the Village, we always felt he was a trusted and fair man .he often related stories about what when on during the war, when he was still in Holland with his family, and how his family helped people in their times of dire need, this obviously stayed with Pieter all his life, by the compassion he showed towards others. we will miss you Pieter, but give thanks for having the pleasure of having you in our lives, albeit for a short while, may you rest in peace and be reunited with your loved ones..Dave, Lesley, Matt, Ben, & Kate Hillyar.

Pieter Bremmers known to the Ritchi family as Mr. B was a man who took much interest in the lives and welfare of others.  His strong work ethic, his love for his family, and involvement in the community through the Rotary Club of Vaughan provided many who knew him an excellent example to follow.  His interest in the news of the day would often generate lively discussion amongst those who wished to debate the issue at hand.  May you rest in Peace in the loving hands of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Paul, Merle, Stephanie, Jessica and David Ritchi

OBITUARY

Pieter Bremmers

October 6, 1925 – September 23, 2010

Kane-Jerrett Funeral Homes

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