Born in Vlissingen the Netherland, Jack spent most of his childhood in the Hague. His fondest memory was riding his bicycle with his brother Piet to the 1937 Boy Scout World Jamboree in Bloemendaal Netherlands. This would begin a life long love of traveling via bicycle; he would continue this through his 80’s.
When Nazi Germany invaded the Netherlands Jack escaped to France. He was 19. Jack joined the French resistance. When the Americans landed in Normandy Jack joined the American forces in Patton’s 3rd Army, as a translator; he spoke 4 languages. They made him a first lieutenant and taught him to drive. Jack would then be stationed in Garmisch-Partenkirchen Germany, again as a translator. Jack fell in love with the mountains, climbing and skiing.
He ultimately made it to Aspen in 1949, bartending at the Hotel Jerome and The Red Onion for ten years. He built and then operated the Holland House ski lodge at the base of Lift 1 for decades. Jack’s longest local legacy comes from creating a community party to attract guests during the slow month of January in the early 1950’s. He called it “Winterskol”. A true mountaineer, Jack was also a 35 year member of Mountain Rescue.
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