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Hope Honors Long-Time Holland Dentist Titus Van Haitsma
Posted June 26, 2002
HOLLAND -- Dr. Titus Van Haitsma, a retired
dentist who spent his career in Holland, has been honored
for demonstrating exceptional interest in and support of
Hope College by the college's Second Century Club.
Van Haitsma, 91, received the club's "Presidents'
Award" during a dinner at the college on Tuesday, June 18.
The award was presented by Brian and Cathy Koop, presidents
of the Second Century Club.
Van Haitsma grew up in Jamestown, where his family
ran the general store. He graduated from Hope in 1932,
completed his dental degree at the University of Michigan in
1935, and began a practice in Holland.
He served with the U.S. Army in Europe during
World War II. He subsequently continued his practice in
Holland until retirement.
Among his other support of the college, while in
practice he provided dental care to Hope student athletes.
As a student himself, he had competed in football,
basketball and baseball.
He and his wife, the former Eleanor De Pree, met
in the mid-1950s, when he signed up for an art class that
she was teaching, and were married in 1956. Credited as
founder of the college's department of art, she died in
1992.
Van Haitsma remains active in the life of the
college. In addition to participation in the Second Century
Club, he is a committed patron of the fine and performing
arts and athletic booster. His activities range from
participation in the Hope Academy of Senior Professionals
(HASP); to attending a variety of events including
basketball games, musical concerts and dance performances;
to dining with students periodically in the college's Kletz
Snack Bar.
The Hope College Second Century Club was
established in 1967 to commemorate Hope's second century,
and to recognize those individuals who provide an
exceptional level of support through outright and planned
gifts. The group has more than 600 members.
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