Kersen J. De Jong passed away on February 17, 2016 while on his annual vacation in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Kersen was born in The Hague, the Netherlands on March 13, 1950. At the age of 22, his adventurous spirit propelled him to leave the Netherlands for New York, and from that point forward, he never looked back.
His first job was a buyer for Lord and Taylor. He then became the Managing Director of The Netherlands Chamber of Commerce in the United States and expanded offices around the US. He was a consummate networker who helped a variety of Dutch companies venture into the US markets. He hired many Dutch interns which was the start of a long track record of helping and mentoring young people.
At age 26, he lost both legs in an accident on Fifth Avenue in New York. A passing taxi driver saved his life. He was now an above the knee bilateral amputee. With his stubbornness and tremendous determination , he was quickly walking again on prosthetic legs just 8 weeks after the accident. He has done so for over 39 years.
He dedicated his entire life to not being handicapped. Kersen was a formidable advocate and defender of equality and social justice for the handicapped, underserved and the underrepresented. He waged many successful campaigns to gain equal access to airline travel and public buildings. Kersen was dedicated to creating educational and cultural opportunities for young people.
His passion for music led to his association with the Boys Choir of Harlem often funding their high school and college education. In the late 1990's Kersen decided to start a new foundation called the Netherlands American Community Trust. Through this Trust Kersen continued helping young adults achieve their goals. He brought young musicians from Holland to perform at Carnegie Hall and in return took young Americans to perform in Amsterdam's Concertgebouw. Those experiences were life changing for both performers and their families. Many have gone on to become successful opera singers, playwrights, dancers, jazz pianists and entertainers.
He was a member of the Board of Governors for the Roosevelt Institute and The Four Freedoms, a member and judge of the United Nations Franklin D. Roosevelt International Disability Rights Award Advisory Board, a board member of A Leg to Stand On, a charity that provides free orthopedic care to more than 14,000 children with limb disabilities in the developing world, instrumental in setting up and expanding the Chicago Boys Choir, and helped start the Choir Academy of Chicago.
Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands considered his contributions to Dutch interests in the United States so valuable that she granted him a Knighthood in the Order of Orange-Nassau.
Kersen will be remembered for his remarkable tenacity, energy, passion for living and most of all his generosity. He gave to many unconditionally. He was a strong soul who believed he could make the world around him a better place and took it upon himself to do so. He will be fondly remembered for the lives he touched and the lasting impact he had on the communities he served. Kersen's life is living proof that you can change things in this world.
He is survived by Phillip Perkins, his life-long partner of 37 years, a brother, Martin de Jong, a sister and one cousin.
Donation in lieu of flowers to Shake-a-Leg, Miami.