Johan Veelenturf, a native of the Netherlands, born in Hillegom on March 22nd, 1928, died January 3rd, 2024 at 95.
After the Second World War he obtained a three-year education at a technical school in Haarlem, Holland in preparation for his attendance at the Merchant Marine Academy in Amsterdam from which he graduated in 1948.
After an almost nine-year career in the Dutch Merchant Marine, as an Engineering Officer, followed by a year of employment with Caltex in Sumatra, Indonesia, he immigrated to the United States in 1959 with his British-born wife, Annette, and three-year-old and three-month-old sons Robert and David, starting their new life in Binghamton, New York.
A few years after his arrival and additional engineering education in Binghamton, New York, he was engaged by the Sheraton Hotel Corporation, responsible for many hotel engineering-related activities in ever-increasing managerial capacities: half of his 32 years were in the capacity of Corporate Vice-President until his retirement in 1994.
At various stages in his varied hotel career, Johan's responsibilities covered directing Maintenance and Engineering, Fire Prevention, Life-Safety, Environmental Health, Security, and total Loss Control activities.
He developed many corporate policies, Guidelines, and Standards applicable to Sheraton Hotels worldwide.
His greatest satisfaction and accomplishment was the development and subsequent implementation of a total package Fire Safety - Engineering and Construction standards, covering selection of fire-safe material, compartmentation, detection, alarm communication, exiting, and extinguishing systems applicable to all Sheraton Hotels world-wide, regardless of their size and location.
The subsequent implementation of these standards required frequent travel to Sheraton hotels throughout the world.
The same standards were later adopted by other hotel companies.
In 1988, Johan and his wife, Annette, purchased Lakeview Farm in Harmony, Maine, for relaxation and enjoyment in between his frequent world trips. They enjoyed the peace and tranquility of the area and retired there full time in 1996.
Johan is survived by three sons, Robert, David, and Richard, three grandchildren Nicholas, Callie, and Alexander, his sister Trudy Veelenturf and many cousins, nieces, and nephews in Holland and New Zealand. Johan was predeceased by his wife, Annette and son John.
His funeral service, to which relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend, will be held on Saturday, January 13th at 12:00 Noon at the Crosby & Neal Funeral Home, 117 Main Street, Newport, Maine. Burial will take place in the spring at the North Road Cemetery in Harmony, Maine.
Visiting hours will be held prior to the services on Saturday morning from 10:00 A.M.-12:00 Noon at the Crosby & Neal Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the hard-working Harmony Fire and Ambulance Departments.
To send his family a message of condolence, please visit www.crosbyneal.com