Frederik Jan Harssema

Fred was born on November 25, 1935, in The Hague, The Netherlands, to Marthen Jan and Alida Baas Harssema. His life would eventually take him across oceans and around the world, but the experiences of his childhood in Holland remained an important part of his story.

Fred was just five years old when Nazi Germany invaded The Netherlands and ten when his country was liberated. During those five difficult war years, the love and devotion of his parents kept the family clothed, fed, and safe. Fred and his older sister helped in any way they could. One of Fred’s jobs was to gather potato peelings from neighbors and put them in a large burlap bag. Once a week he would carry the bag two kilometers to a farmer who gave him a small container of milk in exchange for the peelings. German soldiers were stationed on the street corners along the way, and Fred was careful not to attract their attention, walking quietly with his head down and his bag over his shoulders.

Recovery after the war was a slow process. Amid the rebuilding efforts in the country, Dutch teenagers enthusiastically embraced American music, movies, and magazines, and Fred was no exception. At sixteen, he decided he wanted to emigrate to the U.S. and applied for a visa. Three years later, the visa was granted. On June 28, 1956, at the age of twenty, Fred boarded KLM Flight #603 in Amsterdam bound for New York City. After arriving in New York thirteen hours later, he continued by train across Pennsylvania to the small college town of Washington, south of Pittsburgh, where he stayed with Dutch friends of his parents. After high school, he had worked as a draftsman designing bridges for the Dutch government, so he was able to easily find a job as a draftsman. He worked in that capacity for four years before putting himself through Washington & Jefferson College. On November 20, 1964, he became a U.S. citizen, and in 1965 he graduated with a degree in Economics. He was twenty-nine years old, the oldest student in his graduating class.

After graduation, Fred took a well-earned break and spent a week at the New Jersey shore with friends. It was there, on Long Beach Island, that he met the love of his life, Suzanne Fish, and they were married a year later. Forgoing a traditional honeymoon, Fred and Suzanne set off across the country on Route 66 in Suzanne’s ’65 Mustang, pulling a U-Haul behind them. They were headed for Phoenix, where Fred would attend graduate school. They arrived just in time for him to begin classes at Thunderbird School of Global Management, affectionately known as Thunderbird. After earning his master’s degree in International Management, Fred joined Citibank in New York City, and he and Suzanne moved back to the East Coast, settling in New Jersey. His work at Citibank soon took them to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Once back east after their adventures in the Caribbean, Fred and Suzanne began their home ownership journey in New Jersey, first in Whippany and then in Short Hills. They welcomed twins Martin and Michael, followed by Erik, and the family was complete.

In 1978, Fred was recruited by Texas International Oil and Gas Co., a client of his, to join the company as its CFO in Houston, Texas. After much deliberation, he accepted the job, and the family moved to Kingwood, a suburb of Houston. Fred eventually returned to international banking, joining Paribas as an Executive Vice President and then Banque Nationale de Paris (BNP) to build out its presence in Houston and Dallas. He ultimately retired from BNP as President of its Houston office. Fred’s career in international banking took him around the world, something for which he was always grateful.

Of all the places Fred and Suzanne experienced together, Virginia held a special attraction. For years they searched for property in Virginia and eventually found a 130-acre farm in Madison County with an 1850s farmhouse in the middle of it. Both were now retired, so they bought the farm, renovated the house, and for many years traveled from Texas to Virginia every April, returning to Texas in November. The farm became their favorite of all the places they had lived. They loved their huge vegetable garden, the cows and bales of hay, the deer, geese, and frogs, and the mountain views and sunsets. It was a place filled with work, beauty, animals, family, and memories. Eventually, the long 22-hour drive from Houston became more difficult with age, and Fred and Suzanne reluctantly sold the farm. But the lure of Virginia never subsided.

In 2009, Hurricane Ike hit Houston with a vengeance, and the top of a pine tree shot through the roof of their house, flooding a bedroom and bathroom. It was their third hurricane to endure, and this time the decision was clear: it was time to move permanently back to Virginia. In 2010, after thirty-two years in Texas, Fred and Suzanne moved to Williamsburg and never looked back.

Fred was predeceased by his parents and his sister, Margriet van Zijp. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Suzanne; his sons, Martin (Alexis), Michael, and Erik; his granddaughter, Emerson Grace; his sister, Anneke Kooper; his nieces, Sandra and Mariette; and nephew Roy van Zijp.

Fred was a man of integrity and principle in his personal life as well as his professional career. He put his family first above everything else and was completely dedicated to them. Two weeks before he passed away, when given the unexpected diagnosis of cancer that had already spread throughout his body, he turned to the doctor and very calmly said, “I have had a wonderful life, I have a wonderful wife, I have great kids… I am happy.”

In late October, Fred’s ashes will be placed in a columbarium on the grounds of Madison Presbyterian Church, the church they attended during their years at the farm. For family and friends, returning to Madison County at that time will be an opportunity not only to celebrate Fred’s amazing life, but also to revisit a place that meant so much to him. Gilly, the lame goose who would often sit on the front porch of the farmhouse with Fred and Suzanne as they sipped their afternoon tea, would be happy to know that Fred’s final resting place is not far away.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice House, 4445 Powhatan Pkwy, Williamsburg, VA 23188.