Upon request of Phil :

Dear Phil,

I am so sorry for your loss and the loneliness you must be going through. I am glad that you were able to share that last vacation together in Hawaii.

It’s truly unfortunate that we have not seen each other in such a long time. I guess is that part of learning and I regret that I missed the opportunity to tell Kersen myself, how much he meant to me.

When I met him in 1984, I was so incredible green and naïve when I arrived in NYC, he literally taught me everything.

The first day I arrived in New York, he took me out for “a boterham” which I later found out was Michelin star material. After a decent jetlag,  showing me the town way past midnight, driving through Manhattan in his cognac colored Fleetwood, he dropped me off and told me to meet him at 7 for breakfast. That next morning in the office, I was unfortunately “forced” to place that breakfast and previous nights dinner right smack onto the conference table for Rolande to clean.

Those seemed to be the typical NY days when Kersen was in town. Start early, work until 10pm, late night dinners with lots of wine, then cruise all over town, talk about all the real estate prices, listening to all his Embassy and Consulate stories and the usual EVD and funding drama’s. It was always fascinating to spend time with him. He would immerse you in the stories, ask seriously about your opinion. His questions were overwhelming and caused me to read and think all night on how to respond the next day.

He taught me how to reach my targets, strive to perfection (in the silliest details), push my boundaries of physical and mental exhaustion, plan your chess game for any challenge ahead, s, use your fighting spirit and drama to energize, trust my instincts, be confident that all falls in to place and transfer all that energy and confidence on to our clients so that they would become our biggest fans and cheerleaders.

Kersen guided us from relatively sheltered and naïve individuals to self-confident & quick thinking entrepreneurs. During the hours and hours of discussions over many bottles of wine, your name came up frequently and since we had not seen each other until my first visit to Inverness, you were the mystery man that he so often spoke of. After we met it was very clear to me where Kersen got his strategic advice and soundboard. Without you, his world would have been full of explosive drama that was so much his own.

 Whatever you and Kersen concocted as a team, to drive the young dogs like Robert, Gerard, Frans and me forward, it worked well and I am still using that every day. I have also learned to mentor many around me and shared those same live/work ethics.

Forever greatfull……….to both of you.

Wilfred Poiesz
wpoiesz@icloud.com
+1 310-567-9716

Kersen!

What can I say about this very unusual man?

I first came in contact with him at The Netherland Club, when I had just arrived in the US and was working for KLM. We met at all Dutch and KLM events and I can assure you that he had a voice!

He was also one of the most brilliant fund-raisers I have ever met. Succinct and extremely convincing! He managed to get many companies to join him in all kinds of charities.

 For some reason, we hit it off and, no matter how hard he tried, he did not manage to intimidate me.  Maybe that was the key!

Because of his handicap, we were in contact often and over the years I became his point person for my Company. It was not always easy!

Because of the different aircraft types and configurations, we simply could not always accommodate him in his favorite seat in Business Class, 1A, but for some reason, Kersen and I always made it work, without too much of a hassle! Of course, when meeting some of our KLM top guys, he would comment and made fun of me, but all in good spirits!

When and if possible, I supported his tremendous efforts on behalf of the handicapped. Sometimes he could be a little less discreet and liked to shock his audience!

One example was a meeting we had at the Chamber of Commerce with some new (and American) clients.  He was a little late because of a doctor’s appointment and when he finally arrived, (I had failed to inform the attendants of his handicap since I never thought of it as such), he made his entrance on a skateboard since he didn’t have time to put on his prosthesis, or so he said!

The meeting was a huge success!

He was a very special man and I cherish the time I was able to spend with him. Phil was his perfect partner and it was a pleasure to see them together.

Kersen, we miss you, but your legacy through Phil and all those who knew you and worked with you, will live on!

Odette

When the Netherland Club of New York had to close its doors and leave the Rockefeller Center location like a thief in the night, Kersen came to the rescue. With a crew of his young friends and a moving van he managed to get everything out and take to a secured storage space. Chairs, stools, tables, desks, the piano, paintings like the portrait of Queen Wilhelmina, the valued replica of the Halve Maen, the Frisian “stoeltjes“ klok, you name it. His only regret was that the Delft Blue tiles in the hearth and chimney were firmly cemented and he couldn’t get them loose.

Years later we worked closely together for the celebration of the Centennial of the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce and the Netherland Club, both founded in 1903.The Consul General Bob Hiensch had offered to use his contacts to invite Prince Willem Alexander and Princess Maxima as special guests for the combined event. The party, the swan song of the Chamber, would become the crowning event of Kersen’s organizational and fundraising talents and underscore his unconditional support for young musical talent. A fundraising handicap was that the main draw had not yet accepted the invitation and once accepted their visit was not to be made public. We found ways, however, to work around that “secret”.

The party for the Centennials was a joint event but Kersen took the lead in all aspects of the organization: the place (the recently renovated ballroom of the former New York Mercantile Exchange at 55 Wall Street), the pre-dinner reception (no advertising allowed, so all parasols and umbrellas with the red star had to be removed; the royal couple arrived late, which stimulated the mood), the menu, the seating (Princess Christina was his escort), security issues, no press allowed, and above all the entertainment program. An orchestra directed by his friend Skitch Henderson accompanied the Boys Choir and many young artists developed under his aegis and with his support. The official program was concluded with short speeches, all of which written by Kersen. What a wonderful experience orchestrated by Kersen’s hidden hand! After that the MC, Jeroen Krabbe, took over and Kersen could finally relax. He confided in me that only earlier that day he had received the final sponsor commitment to balance the half a million budget for the event.

Kersen could now dedicate his energy and drive to his foundation: the Netherlands American Community Trust helping young musicians. We attended the performances at Carnegie Hall.

Regretfully for us Kersen sold his New York City apartment and moved permanently to Florida.

It was a great privilege to have known him and to have shared so many fun and great times with him. We will cherish the memories.

Jippe and Annette