Roland Joseph van Rijn

Roland van Rijn of Vermilion, Ohio died suddenly on November 27, 2025 at his residence in Vancouver, B.C. after battling renal cancer for 23 years. Roland was born on October 26,1952 in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. He was an entrepreneur and businessman who came to the United States at the age of 19. He graduated from the University of Indiana at Pittsburgh and launched a successful career selling equipment in the steel industry. He was an avid traveler and sailor, spending many seasons on his beloved trawler, Engelenbak, with his wife and first mate, Laura Gongos, exploring the waters and ports near Vancouver and Alaska with their cats, Lovey and Captain Squeek. After retirement and the death of his wife, Roland found a companion and friend in Tina Swinehart and together they enjoyed traveling by ship, train and plane to warm and cold-weather destinations.

Color and creativity were Roland’s trademark and he expressed those traits in his conversations, wardrobe, and home decor. He was a lover of art, in particular glass art, and enjoyed sharing his interest with others. In that regard, he had begun plans for a boutique museum in Vermilion so that others could view his collection. Strong opinions and determination shaped his relationships. “If you’re not Dutch, you’re not much,” was a common quip in his conversations. Or maybe it was an excuse for a personality that he felt was not always understood.

Roland is survived by his daughter, Dr. Saskia van Rijn Popescu, sisters, Karin Brinkhoff - van Rijn (Stan), Lidewijde van Rijn, Saskia Crasborn - van Rijn and many nieces and nephews. He will be especially missed by his nephews, Olivier Mirandolle, Pepijn Brinkhoff and Gijs Brinkhoff of the Netherlands. He was preceded in death by his wife, Laura Gongos, parents, Frits van Rijn and Stiny van Rijn - Baneke, and sister, Ellen Meli - van Rijn.

In his memory, Roland would suggest letting your imagination lead you to explore, learn something new, and appreciate the beauty and personalities in the world around you. Donations in his memory may be made to Public Art Vermilion, a program of Main Street Vermilion, or the Roland van Rijn Fund for the Arts through the Lorain County Community Foundation.

Online condolences may be made at www.riddlefuneralhome.com.