Robert Van Bergen

Dr. Robert Paul "Bob" Van Bergen, 74, of Vermilion, died Saturday, April 4, 2020, at Mercy New Life Hospice after a battle with cancer. He was born April 7, 1945, in Baltimore, MD, and had been a Vermilion resident for the past 20 years after moving from Westlake. Dr. Van Bergen grew up in Cleveland Heights, matriculated from Cathedral Latin high school, and eventually graduated from the University of Dayton, where he met the love of his life and the mother of his children, Ginny Pojman. Dr. Van Bergen graduated from Cincinnati College of Medicine and developed the Cardiothoracic Surgery Program at Fairview Hospital on the west side of Cleveland. He devoted his entire 28-year career at Fairview Hospital diligently caring for his patients and expanding the program before he retired in 2004. He was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church, Vermilion, American Association of Thoracic Surgeons, Association of Critical Care Medicine, American College of Surgeons, and the Society of Critical Care Medicine. He enjoyed shooting trap and sporting clays, whipping his cherished grandchildren around on boating excursions out on Lake Erie and spoiling them with Brummers candies and Romps Dairy Dock ice cream afterwards. He also enjoyed Wednesday night dinners with his wonderful group of lifelong friends. He is survived by his sons Robert Paul (Alison) Van Bergen Jr. of Chesterfield, MO, and Paul (Lauren) Van Bergen of Northbrook, IL; daughter Sarah (Chris) Della Vella of Westlake; grandchildren Taylor, Libby, Amelia, Harrison, Oliver, Nora, Teddy, Gianna, and Lucia; brother Jim (Colleen) Van Bergen of Euclid, OH; and his brother-in-law Tony Zupancic of Cleveland Heights, OH. He was preceded in death by his wife Virginia Marie (nee Pojman) Van Bergen in 2017; father Hugo Robert Van Bergen; mother Lillian Mae (nee Williams) Mazie; and his sister Jane Zupancic. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, April 7, 2020 from 4 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Riddle Funeral Home, 5345 South Street, Vermilion, OH 44089 for a (COVID 19 approved) drive thru visitation. A private Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary Catholic Church, Vermilion. The Mass will be streamed live at www.facebook.com/riddlefh on Wednesday, April 8, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. The family suggests memorial contributions to St. Mary Catholic Church, 731 Exchange Street, Vermilion, OH 44089. Online condolences may be made at www.riddlefuneralhome.com.