Obituary: Jacob van Rossum

Jacob van Rossum

1953 - 2015

With deep regret, the Board of Directors of the Roothbert Fund, Inc. announces the death of its long-time Administrative Secretary, Jacob van Rossum, on 2 January 2015.

 A native of the Netherlands, Jacob came to the United States in 1973 as part of a group of followers of the Rev. Sun Myung Moon. While in the U. S., he earned a high school equivalency diploma. After a few years, he became disenchanted with what he saw as the intolerance of Moon and many of his followers and left the organization. In 1977, Jacob was admitted to the School of General Studies, Columbia University. He earned a B. A. degree in 1980, and an M. A. from Columbia’s School of International Relations in 1981.  In 1979 and again in 1980, Jacob was awarded grants from the Roothbert Fund in support of his studies at Columbia. 

Following his graduation, Jacob worked part-time for a Wall Street executive search firm and as a freelance research assistant. In 1984, he became the U. S. correspondent for EO Broadcasting, the Netherlands. He was also a member of the editorial board of Religion in Communist Dominated Areas. A fluid writer and poet, Jacob contributed articles to that publication and to This World, Freedom at Issue and Worldview.  

In 1987, Jacob became the part-time Administrative Secretary of the Fund. In that capacity, he provided important support to the then President, Carl Solberg. From overseeing the application process, arranging and participating in interviews with candidates, maintaining contact with Fellows to attending biannual Pendle Hill weekends, he became the face of the Fund to many. His innate kindness and concern for the students whose education programs the Fund was supporting earned him the friendship of countless Fellows. 

 In 1981, he married Constance Rivoire, who survives him. 

 As his multiple sclerosis took its inexorable course, he faced the future with great courage and steely determination to remain a part of the life of the Fund. After coming to the office on a regular basis became impossible, he stayed in contact by telephone. Each year, he looked forward to reading the collection of essays written by the newest batch of Fellows. 

 A memorial service for Jacob will be held at St. Michael’s Church, Amsterdam Avenue between 99th and 100th Streets, New York, on Sunday, 15 February 2015, at 1 p.m. 

 “May the soul of the faithful departed rest in peace, and light perpetual shine upon him.”