OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 103, 25 January 1930, Page 9

OBITUARY

REV. H. VAN STAVEREN A FULL AND USEFUL LIFE Full of years and laden with all the honours that good citizenship bestows, the Rev. Herman van Staveren went to his last rest yesterday morning, loved and esteemed by all who knew him. His health had been failing for some yean, and less than twelve months ago his life was despaired of by his family and the community to whom he had so long administered in this city, but he gradually pulled round again, and for a few weeks he moved about, attempting to resume those public duties he had been associated with for half a century. But nature was exhausted —and the end came yesterday moaning. The late Mr. Van Staveren was born in Bokward, Holland, in 1849, the son of the Rev. Isaac Van Staveren. He was educated at Antwerp and London for the Hebrew ministry. In 1877 the late Mr. Joseph Nathan, when about to visit London on business matters, was requested by the Hebrew community of this city to secure a Rabbi, so that they might be given the opportunity of imbibing the faith and wisdom in the religious practices of their forefathers in a proper and seemly manner. Mr. Nathan consulted the then Chief Rabbi, of London, the distinguished Dr. Adler, and he in turn referred Mr. Nathan to young Mr. Van Staveren, as one of outstanding ability and brilliant promise. An interview ensued, and as the result the young man was appointed to minister to the spiritual needs of the Jewish community of this city, a position he held to the end of his days, becoming known as a man of the broadest views and the widest humanity. He was always a virile, active man, who had the wellbeing of his fellow-citizen, irrespective of creed, at heart, and whose single purpose in life was to benevolently aid and succour all in distress. They were not all Jews who tramped up Wellington Terrace to seek advice from Rabbi Van Stayeren. He actually

“Lived in his house by the side of the road, And was a friend to Man.” It is said of the late Rabbi that never through his long life in Wellington was he tempted to sit on any board (in business or otherwise) where there was any personal remuneration; but where there was real service to be' rendered to his fellow-citizen, no matter what his status or degree, he was ready and willing to work and advise to the best of his ability. So, with experience that advice became of great value. So long as he enjoyed good health he insisted on attending meetings connected with those beneficent bodies which attend to the sick and suffering. Very properly his duties, first and foremost, were to his own people.,

One Great Ambition. It is said of the deceased that his one great ambition in life was to live to see the hew Synagogue on Wellington Terrace erected. He presided at the laying of the foundation stone on February 10 last year, and was spared to officiate at the opening of the new edifice on September 22 last, so that his crowning wish was fulfilled. His name will be imperishably connected with the new Synagogue for all time. For Charity. His work for charity’s sweet sake commenced in London. It was continued on his arrival in Wellington, and not once did he relax in those efforts which made for the betterment of those in low water. He <was one of the trustees of the old Wellington Benevolent Institution, and when that body became merged in the Wellington and Wairarapa Charitable Aid Board, the Rev. Mr. Van Staveren was its first chairman. He was also 'the first chairman of the Wellington Hospital Board in 1879, and had been a member ever since. On several occasions he topped the poll at the biennial elections, an . indication of the wide and general respect in which he was held. He was also one of the founders of the Home for the Aged Needy; was a very live member of the Terrace School Committee; and was a member of the Masonic order, the Wellington Rotary Club, and the Wellesley Club. A Personal Tribute. Mr, C.> M. Luke, chairman of the Wellington ' Hospital Board, who had been associated with Mr. Van Staveren in charitable aid and hospital work for the greater paYt of a lifetime, said: “Mr. Van Staveren commenced his social service work in 1878, and was continuously a member of the Wellington Charitable Aid Board from that year until 1910. . During that, period the duties were conducted by a board separate from the hospital administration. Mr. Van Staveren, as chairman of the Social Service Board for many years, became well known to those in distresSj and always manifested marked qualities of human sympathy—qualities which endeared him to his fel-low-citizens.

“Mr. Van Staveren became a member of the board of Hospital Trustees, and in that capacity showed not only great sympathy, but was a capable administrator. His service on the two boards covers a period of about 54 years. He was proud of that fact, and doubtless had good reason to be so, as such a long term must constitute a record for the Dominion. He was noted for his punctuality and regularity at meetings of the boards and of committees, and was humorously referred to by his fellow-mem-bers as ‘The Time-keeper.’ “In the sphere of social service he was always prominent, and if he erred at all it was always on the side of sympathy and good-will. I have met few men having the same unselfish consideration for those in need. He made great sacrifices of his time and energy to a degree that in later years told upon his strength, and he would often attend meetings when he was unwell and should have remained at home; but so great was his zeal for duty that he would let nothing stand in the way of carrying out such work. In this he set a noble example. The value of his public service cannot be estimated in money, but has a reward in the esteem and love of his fellow citizens of all classes.”

The Family. The Rev. Mr. Van Staveren is survived by a widow (the daughter of the late Mr. Abraham Burnett, of London) and twelve sons and daughters. The sons are Messrs. Isaac and Bertrand Van Staveren, of Wellington, and Mr. Maurice Van Staveren, of Auckland; and the daughters, Mesdames L. Harris and Israel, of Sydney; Miss Rui Van Staveren, of Sydney ; Mesdames Phil Myers and Manoy, of Wellington.; Mrs. Ronald Isaacs, of Auckland; and Misses Minnie, Lena, and Ray Van Staveren, of Wellington. Another son, Henry, who promised to be a brilliant lawyer, died during the epidemic of ISIB. The Funeral. A special memorial service will be held in the Synagogue at 2.30 p.m. to-morrow, with the Rev. C. Pitkowsky as the officiating Rabbi, prior to the funeral, which will leave for the Karori cemetery after the service. It is scarcely likely that Rabbis from the other centres will attend, as it is against church law for them to travel on Saturday (the Jewish Sabbath), ’but sympathetic communications have been received from all of them by Mrs. Van Staveren. • Appointing a Successor. For over twenty years the Rev. C. Pitkowsky has been assistant-Rabbi to the Rev. Mr. Van Staveren. relieving him of some of the more onerous duties attendant upon his high office. The matter of appointing a successor is one for the consideration of the Board of Management of the Synagogue, who, as a rule, deliberate over the matter, and then make a recommendation to the congregation, soliciting from its members an expression of opinion on the matter. This is not done hurriedly, but after full consideration from every possible point of view.