Frederick Bernard Bornemann

Born April 7, 1933, Friedrich Bernhard Cramer Bornemann , as a Dutch citizen in Kota-Radja in "Nederlands Oost Indie" in Atjeh, Sumatra (now known as Banda Aceh in Indonesia). As history would have it, he was a member of the last generation of Dutch-Indonesians. Son of a Royal Dutch Navy officer, Leon Benjamin and amateur opera singer, Maria Geertruida Elli Broker, his life was marked by significant historic events.

As a young boy, his family endured World War II in the Netherlands under German occupation. These formative years were filled with tragedies of a father taken from the dinner table and jailed by Nazi soldiers in Buchenwald Concentration Camp, and a mother jailed in the Koor House for helping a young Jewish family. Equally impactful was the kindness of strangers he and his eldest brother received as they sought refuge from the starving winter on a farm in rural Holland, Spanbroek. From this chance meeting, a 3-generation bond has continued between the families.

After WWII, the family was reunited. As a young adult, Fried joined the Dutch Army and became a 1st Lieutenant. He met and married Hanneke (Hanny) Elize Godelive Galstaun in 1958.

Shortly after, in 1959, they immigrated to the United States as part of the Truman Treaty that welcomed displaced WWII survivors to become United States citizens. With a new name, Frederick (Fred) Bernard Bornemann and sponsors in Chicago, they spent their first 5 years in the United States working hard, achieving an education, and fulfilling the American Dream, finally recognized as naturalized citizens on December 8, 1964.

First earning his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Chicago Technical College in 1964 and then, at the Florida Institute of Technology, a Master’s of Science Systems Management in 1969, Fred used his education throughout his lifetime career with IBM.

During the 1960’s space race, he was a member of the launch team for the Apollo missions 1-13. Later in his IBM career, he contributed to the development of the first personal computers and the Army GPS project. He was an IBM lifer until he retired in the late 80s.

As a US Citizen, he lived all across the country, Chicago, California, Florida, New Jersey, Maryland, Texas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Delaware with his final resting place back in Maryland.

In retirement, he found joy in helping young people as a math and physics teacher at Spartan School of Aeronautics and Tulsa Community College in Oklahoma and as a tutor. He loved sailing and wood working throughout his life.

In his final historic act, he was a first-round recipient of the Covid-19 vaccination and he chose to gift his body to science for the advancement of medicine beyond his time on earth.

He passed on January 4, 2021 leaveing behind his son, Frederick R. Bornemann, daughter, Daphne Yvette Diamond, granddaughter, Emma E. Shirey, son-in-law Evan Diamond, and youngest brother, Peter Cramer Bornemann. He was a man who lived a big life in his small world. His work touched many and his spirit will be missed by those he moved. May he sail on forever and rest in peace.

A virtual memorial will be held on January 30, 2021 at 1pm EST. Interested attendees RSVP on Events page.