Helge Willem Leeuwenburgh

June 27, 1931 - January 10, 2017

Helge Willem Leeuwenburgh, 85, on January 10, 2017 passed away peacefully in his Princeton, New Jersey home after a long, brave fight against cancer. Helge is survived by his wife Carolyn; his three children Mark and his wife Joanne, Erika and her husband Steve, and Todd; and four grandchildren Zachary, Alexandra, Sophia and Emma. He is also survived by his brother Wim,residing in the Netherlands, with his niece Astrid and nephews Geert and Tony. Helge was born June 27, 1931 in Nykobing, Denmark to Ragnhild Hostrup and Antonie Leeuwenburgh. He grew up with his two brothers, Willem and Jens, in Amsterdam. He graduated from the Het Amsterdams Lyceum in 1949 and studied at the University of Amsterdam before entering the Royal Netherlands Navy where he served as a signal officer stationed in Suriname. He and his wife, Carolyn, met in The Netherlands in 1955. They moved to the United States and then married in 1957. They settled in Brooklyn Heights, New York, where they started a family and he became a United States citizen. In 1970 the family relocated to Princeton, New Jersey. In the early 1970’s he began his career in travel for the Netherlands National Tourist Office and concurrently managed the import-export of Dutch cheese into the country. Afterwards, he pioneered low-fare group travel in the United States with his business partner Sir Freddie Laker. Subsequently, he founded Overseas-Charter-A-Flight and, as president and chief executive officer, led the company for over a decade. In the 1980s, he was a sought-after independent tour operator organizing and leading groups in China, and throughout the United States and Europe for Rider University, Westminster Choir College amongst educational and other institutions. He enjoyed bicycling, hiking, the outdoors, and time with family. He was a global citizen respected and admired by family, friends, and colleagues for his intelligence and compassion. He will be remembered fondly as a patient husband, loving father, and friend. A Memorial Service to celebrate his life will take place Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017 at 11:00 am: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton 50 Cherry Hill Road Princeton, New Jersey 08540 In remembrance of Helge, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society or the American Diabetes Association. Services were under the direction of Hopewell Memorial Home and Cremation Service, 71 E. Prospect Street Hopewell NJ 08525