Frank Gruijter

Frank Gruijter passed away on November 27, 2023, at the age of 88, just days after celebrating his birthday. Born in the Netherlands, he held many happy memories of growing up in The Hague with his five siblings during World War II. After completing high school, he worked in the office of the Canadian Embassy, where the idea of moving to Canada began. While serving in the Dutch Air Force, he applied to emigrate to Canada and was granted an early leave. In July 1955, he landed in Gander, Newfoundland, and was sent to work as a farm hand in Collingwood, Ontario. After the harvest, he moved to Toronto. It was during a weekend visit to see his Collingwood friends that he met Maxine, who was on her way home from Teachers' College. They married in 1959. Frank joined Employment and Immigration as an Immigration Officer at the airport in 1966 and worked his way up to Manager of Management Services Operations. He was a polyglot, speaking Dutch, English, German, and French, and had a passion for music, particularly Gilbert and Sullivan. He was a voracious reader, a skilled calligrapher, a smooth ballroom dancer, and a dedicated volunteer. Frank graduated from York University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1991, after years of part-time studies and handwritten essays. He leaves behind his wife, Maxine, of 64 years, their daughter, DeAnn, and grandsons, Willem and Marcus.