Cornelius J. Van Bourgondien

Cornelius (Neil) John Van Bourgondien, Jr., known during the 1960’s and 70’s as the orchid man of Talbot County, MD, died peacefully at William Hill Manor, July 10, at the age of 96. Neil was born May 27, 1916, the son of Cornelius John and Elizabeth Van Bourgondien in Middletown, CT. After graduating from high school, he was going to go to the seminary to become a priest but flunked Greek and decided that God had a different calling for him. The Van Bourgondien family moved to Long Island, NY, and his father started raising tulips, as he had done in Holland before immigrating to the United States. Neil recalled that his first job with the corporation was shoveling coal into the boilers to keep the steam up to sterilize the benches. He was so good at that, that he was soon promoted to shoveling horse manure! At the same time, Neil discovered that God had a different path for him to follow, that path led him to Gretchen Benjamin who was a star table tennis player. On their first date, she soundly beat him, and he promptly fell in love. That love endured 67 years including being separated for four years, almost immediately after they were married, when Neil enlisted in the Army and became an aircraft mechanic. He saw action in the Philippines, Borneo, and Guadalcanal. As a Staff Sergeant, he was so well thought of that one of the pilots he knew let him fly one of the Army’s experimental twin engine fighter bombers to assess its performance. Neil said it was the most thrilling ride the pilot ever had. Upon returning from the war, it was family and business time. Neil and Gretchen’s first child, Janet, died shortly after birth. Surviving her were Dave, then Don, and Marie. The Van Bourgondien Brothers business was also growing and expanding from tulips to orchids, freesia, camellias, gerbera daises (which the family imported to the US and hybridized to the colors we now have today) along with many other flowers. At one point, Van Bourgondien Brothers was the fifth largest orchid growers in the U.S. When Cornelius Sr. retired, Neil took over as President of the Corporation. At the same time, smog was killing the orchid flowers in New York and it was decided that Neil would move a branch of the business to the Eastern Shore of Maryland, family in tow. In the summer of 1959, Neil and son Dave came to the sleepy town of Bozman with the rest of the family following a few weeks later. In the 1960’s, the closest Catholic Church was in Easton. Neil and Gretchen thought that should change. At first they convinced the local Monsignor to say mass in the second floor of the St. Michael’s firehouse. That continued for a few years until the church saw that there were so many people flocking to Sunday afternoon mass that there was a need for better facilities. Then Neil and Gretchen undertook what today would be an unheard of challenge, to have a church completely paid for before construction ever began. They contacted property owners, held bake sales, and obtained the free services of a leading architect. In 1969, St. Michaels Chapel opened its doors. Never one to be idle, Neil was not only active in the Easton Players during the 60’s and 70’s, a little theatre group recognized as the oldest continuous little theatre group in the country, but also served as their President for several years. Throughout his entire life, he served the Catholic Church and in 1987 was ordained a Permanent Deacon by the Diocese of Wilmington. Neil donated countless hours to Sts. Peter & Paul School, reading the bible and explaining scripture to the students. His students from 30 years ago still remember “Mr. Neil” or “Deacon Neil” and the parables that he would teach, not only about the bible but about life and how to live it. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and St. Ann and Joachim Society Hospice. In the 1950’s he took a short ride on a friends Harley Davidson and thoroughly enjoyed but did not pursue it. Then, at age 50 he bought a Honda Goldwing and rode it until he was 75. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Gretchen; daughter, Marie; and brother, Phil. He is survived by his children, Dave in Falls Church, VA, Don (Judy) in Trappe, MD, and their son, Donald, Jr. (D.J.), of Easton, MD; one brother, John, of New York; two sisters, Elizabeth Hutchinson and Joan Condit; Marie’s son, Christopher Straub; and many other nieces and nephews. A funeral liturgy will be celebrated at St. Michaels Chapel on Wednesday, July 18 at 10:30 a.m. Friends may call Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home, P.A., 200 S. Harrison St. Easton, on Tuesday, July 17 from 7 p.m.-8 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to Sts. Peter and Paul School, 900 High St., Easton, MD 21601 and/or Talbot Hospice Foundation, 586 Cynwood Dr. Easton, MD 21601.

Cornelius J. Van Bourgondien

May 27, 1916 - July 10, 2012