WILLIAM SEYMOUR (VON) VON HELMOLT

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WILLIAM SEYMOUR (VON) VON HELMOLT On December 22, 2003. Born in Long Island, NY, October 27, 1915. Larger than life in both body and spirit, his infectious humour and love of a good time made him many friends all over the world. His wife of 61 years, Effie (nee Morton) was the star of the family, but Von took enormous pride in her beauty, accomplishments and charming manner. They met in New York, where they were both attending Pratt Institute, and married in 1942 before Von left for overseas. He served in the Pacific theatre with the US Marine Corps during the Second World War, and opted to set up house in Winnipeg, MB, Effies city of origin, after the war - Von claiming the great duck hunting as his main reason for that decision. They were a stunning and active couple on the social scene in Winnipeg, living on Victoria Crescent and raising a family (Vonnie, Bill, Jennith and Kenneth) through two major floods, between 1945 and 1992. Von was a salesman par excellence, and finished his career with Montreal Trust in their commercial real estate division. Von is specially remembered by all his Victoria Crescent neighbours as the literal embodiment of the Christmas Spirit - for at least 20 years he faithfully donned the perfect red velvet Santa suit, silky white beard and shiny black boots on Christmas Eve and made the rounds from door to door, picking up presents for the saucer-eyed little ones outside the door of each house with a candle in the window as a signal that Santa was expected. Bursting in the door with a thunderous "HO HO HO - MERRRRRY CHRISTMAS," this was an intense, god-like Santa, whose piercing blue eyes above the frosty beard could see into your very soul, and many a child with a guilty conscience quailed inwardly when asked the impossible question "had they been good..?" And then, the joy and relief as a gift came out of the big duffle sack, and Santa, after a sip of eggnog and a cookie, was on his way. In 1992 Von and Effie moved operations to a gorgeous ocean view apartment in Victoria, throwing elaborate parties for the many new and old friends they found in Victoria. Vons passions were fishing, either on the ocean with his friend John, or at Farlane, the familys lodge in Northern Ontario, and bridge, which he played with a keen focus and intensity that earned him the respect of the partners who could keep up with him. Gifted with his genes for sense of humour, intelligence and love of life are his four children, Vonnie (Alan), Bill (Penny), Jennith (Jim) and Ken (Christine) his four grandchildren, Vonnies daughters, Laine and Jolyn Hoogstraten; Kens daughters, MacKenzie and Chloe Von Helmolt; and his great-grandchildren, Morgan, Ripley, Sage and Lino. Donations in Vons name may be sent to the Victoria Hospice Society, 1952 Bay St., Victoria.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 03, 2004