Cornelis van de Geest
| Geslacht: | Man | |
| Vader: | Jan van de Geest | |
| Moeder: | Aartje Kroon | |
| Geboren: | 11 Juni 1896 | Bunschoten |
| Overleden: | 8 OKT 1976 | Bunschoten |
| Aantekeningen: | Last Name: Geest van de First Name: Cornelis Alias: Kees Date of Birth: 1896 Date of death: 01/10/1976 Rescuer's fate: survived Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS Gender: Male Profession: FARMER Place during the war: Bunschoten, Utrecht, The Netherlands Rescue Place: Bunschoten, Utrecht, The Netherlands Rescue mode: Hiding File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/11997) Israel Lopes Cardozo, his wife Bendina and their daughter Sophia (Fifi, later Locher) born in 1937, lived in Amsterdam. Some half a year after the occupation of the Netherlands in May 1940, anti-Jewish measures started. When Jews were no longer allowed to work for non-Jews and thus became unemployed, men were often sent to local work camps in the eastern and northern parts of the country. And so it happened with Israel. Bendina stayed behind with their young daughter and somehow tried to manage. When, in the summer of 1942, the deportations 'for work in the East" started, Bendina decided to try and locate a hiding place instead. Together with Sophia, then five years old, she found a place in a town in the central part of the country. However, it turned out to be temporary only, as the German occupier billeted the home where they had found refuge. After yet another temporary address, towards the end of 1943, they were taken to the home of Cornelis and Jannetje van de Geest, who lived near the town of Bunschoten (prov. Utrecht). Cornelis and Jannetje, both in their early forties, lived with their nine children on a farm on the outskirts of the town. Mother and daughter Lopes Cardozo were 'introduced' as Tinie, for Bendina, and Miep for Sophia, supposedly from the southern province of Limburg, where the majority of people have darker complexions. Still, to be on the safe side, a hiding area behind the alcove was prepared for Bendina. Once, when Bendina ventured out onto the street, she promptly encountered German soldiers who asked her where she was from. She then spontaneously answered, 'from Limburg', and was left alone. After that incident she stayed indoors at all times. Sophia was able to roam around the house and in the backyard and for some time was even able to go to school. She joined the van de Geests at church. Bendina and Sophia became an integral part of the van de Geest family; Bendina helping out as much as possible. Sophia had instant playmates with some of the van de Geest children who were about her age. They stayed with them for over one year, until the liberation of the area in May 1945. Sophia had a hard time leaving the van de Geests. After the war it turned out that Israel Lopes Cardozo had been murdered in Auschwitz. Mother and daughter soon immigrated to the United States. In spite of the distance, they stayed in touch. On January 12, 2011, Yad Vashem recognized Cornelis van de Geest and Jannetje van de Geest-ter Beek as Righteous Among the Nations. |
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Gezin 1
| Huwelijkspartner: | Jannetje ter Beek | geb. 2 OKT 1895 |
| Huwelijk: | 11 Sept 1920 | Bunschoten |