THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST Branch of The Holland Society of New York held its Annual Meeting in Astoria, Oregon, on October 16–18, 2009, with the help of Holland Society Friend Leena Riker. The meeting was dedicated to the memory of immediate Past President of the Pacific Northwest Branch and The Holland Society of New York, John VanDerbeek IV, who died suddenly last June 1st at his home in Seattle. In attendance were Diane VanDerbeek, Neilson and Tori Abeel, Paul and Lynne Otto, Richard and Vivienne Van Slyke, Sloan Heermance and Larry Deckman, Leena Riker, and Edwin and Tish Outwater.

Because of John VanDerbeek's love of boats and the Pacific Northwest coast, the beautiful and historically significant Columbia River town of Astoria was selected for the meeting. Astoria was the ending point of the famous Lewis and Clark expedition and the place they chose to winter in in 1805–06. It is also the oldest city west of the Rockies. Leena Riker, a Society Friend and an Astoria resident, volunteered to be “on site” coordinator. The group was welcomed on Friday evening at her beautiful waterfront loft on the banks of the Columbia where she served a gourmet dinner highlighting fresh local seafood paired with Oregon wines. On Saturday, events included a tour of Astoria and its environs, such as Lewis and Clark's Fort Clatsop in the nearby National Forest and the Astoria Column, overlooking the town and harbor and commemorating the founding of Astoria and its fur trade by John Jacob Astor in 1811. Ms. Riker also arranged a visit to the private home of a lifelong Astoria resident and art collector, where the group viewed works ranging from antique Chinese “Rose Medallion” porcelain to Picasso, Rodin, David Hockney, and Frank Stella. This was followed by an excellent lunch at a restaurant on Wharf 11. That evening, a celebration of John's life centered on a video commemoration. Following this, personal remembrances were shared and a letter of condolence from Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands was read by John's wife, Diane. Before adjourning for dinner, Dr. Paul Otto, Professor of History from George Fox University in Portland and a Fellow of The Holland Society, spoke on the differing views of the Dutch settlers and the Native Americans concerning the Dutch purchase of Manhattan. Finally, after the appropriate toasts, we enjoyed at another river front restaurant, “The Baked Alaska,” a world-class dinner of Scallop Ceviche with baby greens, freshly-ground-coffee-encrusted albacore drizzled with a balsamic reduction, Painted Hills beef shoulder tenderloin with sweet corn cream, and “Half-Baked Alaska” for dessert, all paired with Oregon wines (a favorite being Christopher Bridge Pinot Gris from The Willamette Valley). It was cooked and explained by chef/owner Chris Holen and sous chef Marc Winheim as we sat around an open kitchen. On Sunday, those of us whose travel schedules allowed it met for a brunch at yet another riverfront restaurant, this time in refurbished old “netting” building where, in the past, the nets of the local fishing fleet had been maintained.

It was, all in all, a wonderful but bittersweet weekend full of Holland Society good fellowship and good food and wine enhanced by the stunningly beautiful Pacific Northwest coast and the shipping traffic constantly visible on the Columbia. For those present, it was also fitting that they were able to celebrate the life of a dear friend and Past President John VanDerbeek, who loved all of this so much. He is missed—but yet, as such a prototypical Pacific Northwesterner, and thus a part of all of the area's incredible natural beauty, he will be with us always.