"A butterfly flies beside us like a sunbeam. For a moment, its beauty belongs to our world. Then it flies on, and though we wish it could have stayed, we feel so lucky to have seen it." - Unknown
"The song has ended, but the melody lives on." - Irving Berlin
Obituary
Simon Jongedijk passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 20, 2025 at True Davidson Acres Long Term Care, East York, Toronto. Ontario, Canada with loved ones by his side. He was 85.
He is survived by his wife Liselotte, just shy of their 60th wedding anniversary, children Karen (Patricia, Simon Jr), Marc (Michelle, Devon, and Meike), Gitta (Jeremy), and nephew Siemen. He will be missed by a rich network of friends around the world. Thank you to the wonderful staff at True Davidson Acres for their care and support.
As Simon wished, there will be no funeral. Instead, we invite you to read about his remarkable life, and share your memories below on the Memory Wall. If you click on the little speaker icon, you will hear Simon playing with the Blue Monk Jazz Ensemble.
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A life well lived is made up of many chapters, and Simon had the good fortune to experience a great many of them. A series of adventures that took him around the world experiencing amazing sites, trying different foods, immersed in different cultures and meeting wonderful people. When home, he always had something on the go, playing his stand-up bass, tennis, and bridge. He had, by his own account, a long, interesting, exciting, and fulfilling life.
Simon was born in Velsen, Noord Holland, The Netherlands, on May 15, 1940, the day the Dutch forces surrendered to Germany and Princess Juliana, along with her children (including the future Queen Beatrix) left Europe to seek refuge in Ottawa, Canada. The next years saw The Netherlands under German occupation.
In 1942, when Simon was 2-years-old, the German army anticipated an Allied Invasion along the Dutch coast near IJmuiden, just west of where the family lived. The entire region was evacuated. Simon’s mother, with her two young sons Harmen and Simon, made the journey north to unoccupied Friesland, and a small holding, where her husband’s family lived. Simon’s father remained behind, joining the underground resistance. The family was separated for two years and Simon would not see his father again until the war neared its end.
The family reunited in 1944 and settled in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, where Simon’s father began working at Philips, remaining there until his retirement in 1972. It was said that when the workday ended at Philips, more than 20,000 bicycles would spill out into the streets as employees rode home for dinner, Simon’s father among them, as part of that daily rhythm of post-war life. In those years, housing was in short supply, and it was common for Dutch families to share homes or host Allied soldiers. One of Simon’s earliest and most vivid memories was proudly standing in the open hatch of an Allied tank, surrounded by the Canadian crew who had been billeted in their home. His head poked out as the tank rolled down his street, waving to friends while the neighbourhood celebrated the liberation of Eindhoven on September 18, 1944.
The family moved into a Philips employee neighbourhood, where Simon’s mother continued to live until her passing in 1999. The community was close-knit, every neighbour worked for Philips, and a shared sense of innovation and post-war rebuilding shaped daily life. When Simon was around 9-years-old, a neighbour, who was involved with the Philips experimental television studio and early broadcasts, invited local families into his home. In a living room with everyone pressed shoulder to shoulder like sardines, they gazed with wonder at this amazing thing called television.
Simon had an adventurous spirit and a lifelong desire to see the world. After his studies at the CILG (Central Institute of Physical and Health Education), he began working at Philips in the Central Service Department, hoping it might lead to an international posting. But after two years still based in Eindhoven, Simon and his best friend, Kiek, took matters into their own hands and hatched a plan to move to Sweden. Traveling in Simon’s car, they made their way north and spent a year living and working in Sweden, Simon in a handbag factory, and Kiek in a jam factory. Resourceful as ever, they discovered a Swedish tourism initiative called Sundays with the Swedes, which allowed visitors to enjoy dinner in the homes of local families. Each Sunday night they signed up and enjoyed eating a warm meal, meeting new people and a window into Swedish life.
Once back in the Netherlands, the plan was simple: work, save, and fund the next travel adventure. Through Kiek’s father, Simon secured a job at Bata Shoes. Though he had hoped to take on better-paying shift work in the factory, he was instead hired as assistant to the Personnel Manager, and worked with the team responsible for placing management trainees from the Bata school in Best into Bata factories around the world. A few months later, Simon met Liselotte when she joined the staff in the Personnel Department. As job postings from across the global Bata network crossed Simon’s desk, one in particular caught his eye: a request for a Junior Buyer in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). His curiosity quickly turned to resolve. Simon applied and was accepted. He proposed to Liselotte, who would follow him six months later. He said goodbye to his parents, his brother, and his friends, knowing that he might not see them again for many years. In April 1965, Simon landed in Rhodesia ready to begin a new chapter, half a world away.
When the Bata Shoe Company changed its policy to cover travel costs only for legally married spouses, Simon and Liselotte quickly made a plan. On August 27, 1965, a proxy wedding ceremony was held in Eindhoven, with Simon’s father, Hendrik (Henk) standing in for the groom. To mark the occasion, Simon and Liselotte had arranged a long-distance cable phone call, a complex and costly undertaking at the time, requiring manual routing through multiple operators and international telephone networks. So excited were the guests at the reception to be part of a phone call from Africa that, when the call finally came in, Liselotte had her first conversation with her husband in the presence of a room full of well wishers.
Liselotte arrived in Rhodesia by plane at the end of September 1965, carrying just one suitcase, which also held her wedding gown. Three days later, in the town of Gwelo, where Simon and Liselotte would make their home, they celebrated a second wedding ceremony at the local Catholic Church on October 2, 1965. Their honeymoon was a camping trip to Victoria Falls and Wankee Game Reserve (now Hwange National Park). Not long afterward, the Rhodesian government issued a Unilateral Declaration of Independence from Britain. This was the first such break from the United Kingdom by one of its colonies since the American Declaration of Independence in 1776. The move was not internationally recognized and triggered a period of political and economic instability. Sanctions were imposed on the breakaway colony, restricting access to petrol and other essential goods. During their Christmas vacation in the Inyanga Mountains, petrol rationing was suddenly introduced. The government ordered all citizens to return home by the shortest route. Simon and Liselotte, having already travelled nearly halfway around the country, calculated that they would need to go a little farther in order to make the “untravelled” portion the shortest way back. At a remote hand-pump station, where the attendant was still unaware of the new restrictions, they managed to get a full tank of petrol and continue as planned. On the way home, descending from the mountains, they turned off the engine and coasted down long stretches of road to conserve fuel.
In Gwelo, Simon and Liselotte built a rich and beautiful life together. They made wonderful, lifelong friends, delighted in the explosion of flowering trees after the rains, and marvelled at unforgettable encounters with wildlife. They welcomed their three children Karen, Marc and Gitta and they were able to enjoy their shared love of bridge and music. They were active in the community theatre and spent many hours in the orchestra pit. Simon, still holding his Dutch passport, was able to travel despite the international sanctions. This made him a valuable asset to the Bata Shoe Company, which sent him on buying trips across neighbouring African countries and to Europe. Over time, he worked his way up to become Chief Buyer for what was then the largest shoe factory on the African continent.
When Simon received an invitation to become the Global Purchasing Advisor to Thomas Bata, based at the company’s head office in Toronto, Canada, the family began preparing for a major life transition. They moved to Canada at the end of 1978. In his new role, Simon’s travel intensified. He was often away for four to six weeks at a time, visiting far-flung locations such as Singapore, Guyana, Japan, India, Peru, Bolivia, and many countries across Africa. His work involved sharing expertise, leading seminars, and mentoring buyers from Bata operations around the world. When at home in Toronto, Simon commuted to the company’s iconic headquarters on Wynford Drive.
Knowing that a work transfer to another country was imminent, and recognizing the stability that Canada could offer them and their children, Simon and Liselotte made the decision for Simon to leave the Bata Shoe Company. A decision made more difficult as Bata was the co-signer for the mortgage on their home. As resourceful as they always were together, they were able to make the transition, and Simon soon began a new role as the Merchandise Manager for Men’s Footwear and Accessories, with Bally Canada, a Swiss luxury brand best known for its finely crafted shoes. This marked a significant shift in Simon’s long career in the footwear industry, from sourcing raw materials to buying finished product. His travel continued, now focused more on Europe than South Asia, South America and Africa. Memorable meals, lasting friendships, and time spent in Italy, France, and Switzerland became highlights of his professional life. Back at home, a new rhythm emerged: enjoying the sun at the townhouse complex swimming pool, playing tennis at Henry Farm Tennis Club, summer holidays at Nogies Creek, and regularly loading his double bass into the car for band rehearsals and gigs, music once again a steady thread running through his daily life.
Simon had a lifelong love of Dixieland jazz and a special fondness for the Dutch Swing College Band. The first vinyl album he owned was by Claude Luter, the French jazz clarinetist who famously accompanied Sidney Bechet during his years in Paris. Simon’s father bought the 4-track EP for him while on a Philips business trip in France. Unlike Simon, his father did not enjoy travelling, nor eating food different from what he had at home. Included in his father’s suitcase for every business trip was a wedge of Dutch cheese (Friese Kruid Kaas).
In his musical life, Simon enjoyed playing stand-up double bass with several local ensembles, including the Thornhill Swing Band (where he was joined by Karen on Trombone), the Scarborough Music Lovers Big Band, and the Blue Monk Jazz Ensemble. The different bands brought music and dancing to fairs, festivals and functions across Southern Ontario, from ringing in the new millennium on Y2K New Year’s Eve to lively evenings at venues like the Balmy Beach Club. For years, the Blue Monk Jazz Ensemble provided the soundtrack for the Unionville Terry Fox Run, playing as the runners made their way out and back again. The Esson Lake Jazz Festival became a summer favourite. In every setting, Simon’s steady walking-bass rhythms were part of the heartbeat of the events. Simon received his bass from an older musician he deeply respected and admired. He was proud to continue that musical tradition, and found great joy in knowing that the bass is still being played regularly, and that the heartbeat continues.
When Bally closed their Canadian Division in 1994, Simon transitioned to Dack’s Shoes, a division of Church’s English Shoes, becoming President in 1996. Dack’s was one of Canada’s oldest and most respected retailers of quality men’s footwear, their first store opened in Toronto in 1834, the same year the city of York was renamed Toronto. Many Canadian men had a pair of Dack’s Shoes, worn either to work, or for special occasions like weddings or funerals. Simon’s years at Dack’s Shoes brought new life-long friends and a new rhythm of travel, this time to Mexico and across Canada. This new chapter brought with it many memorable road trips. With Liselotte as his navigator, they always chose the scenic route. Their travels often revolved around Simon’s store visits and Liselotte’s music teacher conferences. From a Dack’s store visit in Victoria with a side trip to Tofino and Pacific Rim National Park, to a music teachers’ conference in St. John’s, Newfoundland, followed by an excursion to Cape Spear, they enjoyed exploring the beauty and diversity of Canada together.
After a 45-year career in the footwear industry, Simon retired in 2008. He remained a steady and supportive presence to Liselotte (Mrs J) in the activities surrounding Liselotte’s “Musica Music School” in Leaside.
After his retirement, Simon and Liselotte continued to travel, enjoying memorable journeys to the Caribbean, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, England, and The Netherlands. Along the way, they revisited deep and longstanding friendships, connections that had stretched across continents and, in many cases, continued through generations. There are treasured memories of reunions in The Netherlands, England, New Zealand, and Mexico.
Simon and Liselotte left the townhouse complex they had called home for over 40 years and moved into the newly built The Sumach by Chartwell. Their suite overlooked the athletic fields and track, offering a daily sense of vibrancy and connection to the world outside. During the challenges of COVID, they stayed closely connected with friends and family around the globe, and turned their weekly bridge game into a cherished “Bridge Bubble.” Simon walked the track each day with his walker. Both he and Liselotte found joy in the warmth and richness of their new community. What a gift The Sumach turned out to be.
A hip fracture and surgery in April of 2023 led to Simon’s stay at Bridgepoint Rehabilitation Hospital, followed eight months later by a move to True Davidson Acres Long Term Care Home. The weekly bridge games with Sumach friends followed him, first to Bridgepoint and then to True Davidson Acres, where Simon, even in a wheelchair and facing some cognitive decline, remained one of the sharpest players at the table. He took great pride in passing on his love of the game to his regular Sunday bridge partner, his grandson, Simon Jr. The steady rhythm of visits, in person and on FaceTime and/or WhatsApp from family and friends brought him so much enjoyment and comfort. Special thanks to Penny for her enduring support and care.
As the years passed, Simon the gentleman became truly a gentle man. It is said that when everything else is stripped away, what remains is a person’s true essence. For those who cared for him at True Davidson Acres, that essence was unmistakable. The staff fondly called him “Mr. Wonderful”, a nickname inspired by his frequent use of the word, and even more so by his ever-present smile, his warmth, his kindness, his positivity, and his gracious and consistent gentlemanly nature.
Simon was a sophisticated man who also found great joy in life’s simple pleasures. He loved lifting his face to the sunshine. He was a terrific listener who was easy to talk to, an engaging conversationalist who always had something interesting to share. His distinguished career in the footwear industry was matched by a deep love for family, food, travel, music, and adventure. His understated style quietly permeated every part of who he was. Simon was a remarkable man, and he will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
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Memory wall
My family and I knew Mr J and Mrs J when we first moved to Henry Heights, and in many ways, it seems as though you have always been in our lives as the lovely couple only 2 doors down. I remember Mr J’s gentle company during childhood summers in the community swimming pool, I remember taking my music exams in his living room, and his comforting presence through all the stress, I remember conversations with him in the backyard as I watered the beautiful plants there for some pocket money. Above all, I remember Mr J for his calm humility, and for the kindness and gentleness he embodied.
We were fortunate enough to spend a day with Mr J and family at Bridgepoint back in December 2023 where he taught us how to play Bridge. While admittedly, we were not very strong players, he remained the ever patient tutor. It was a day full of love and joy, a reflection of the life Mr J led.
I count myself lucky for the many years that I’ve known Mr J. On behalf of my family, I’d like to express my sincerest condolences. We miss him a great deal, and we will hold him close to our hearts.
I am thankful for having crossed paths with Simon, a true gentleman. As a good friend, he never failed to wish me on my birthday. I will certainly miss him, but he will always be remembered. To you, Liselotte, and the Jongedijk family, I send my heartfelt sympathies and prayers.
Ivor Woolridge
I say thanks for all the great times we had over the years with the Blue Monk Jazz band. You always had great advice about life and was always willing to share it with me. I am glad David and I were able to visit you last summer. You will be missed my friend
As a young man, you and fellow Blue Monkers showed me how a grown man should be. I admired you and loved you old friend. Our times are some of the most precious to me.
Love you Simon.
Though Simon and I did not have long conversations, we did encounter each other at various times around the TDA building or grounds. He struck me as being a true gentleman, with the emphasis on “gentle.” He was often quiet, but always friendly, with a smile that genuinely lit up his face. I know he will be missed.
On behalf of both Mary Lou and myself, I send all our best wishes to you, Liselotte, and to your family, as you grieve the loss of Simon. May the memory of his presence with you continue to be a source of strength and love in your lives.
I had the privilege of knowing him not only as a boss, but also as a friend. He was the one who taught me to love the footwear industry and, with his charisma, humility, cordiality, and great sense of humor, inspired peace, confidence, and admiration in all those around him.
For me, working alongside him was a gift from life. Thanks to his patience, leadership, and generosity, I learned not only about our profession, but also the value of simplicity, love for his family, and living every moment with passion. My family also deeply admired and esteemed him; Simon became a part of us, and we will always remember him with immense affection.
When He came to Mexico for work, his conversations, the family tours We took, the experiences, and his company made every moment unique and unforgettable. He leaves an indelible mark on my life, not only as the best boss I could have had, but as an extraordinary man, whose memory and example will always remain with me.
I thank God for having crossed paths with him. To you, his beloved family, I send a warm hug, hoping you find comfort in the love he sowed and in the beautiful legacy he left for each of us who were fortunate enough to know him.
With all my love and respect,
Liliana Alvear Moreno
“There are people whose light continues to illuminate our path even after they have passed away. Simón will always be one of those lights on my path.”
You will be sorely missed, Simon, and Liselotte's tender care, never forgotten.
I’m so truly sorry for your loss. Mr. J was a wonderful man who always had such a calm presence. This tribute is so interesting and beautiful. May your memories bring you comfort in difficult times, and may his spirit live on in his children and grandchildren. With much love, Bari
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