Willem Gerard "Wim" Einthoven

1930 - 2014

Willem Gerard Einthoven of Maris Grove, Glen Mills Willem Gerard "Wim" Einthoven, passed away on Jan. 2, 2014. Born Jan. 20, 1930 in Bandoeng, Dutch East Indies, Netherlands, he was the grandson of the inventor of the first practical electrocardiogram, Willem Einthoven. Interned with his family in Japan in 1944 - 1945, Wim witnessed the firebombing of Tokyo first hand. The family members were liberated by the U.S. Army in Aug. 1945, housed in Australia until 1947 and then returned to the Netherlands. Wim studied physics at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, served in the Royal Dutch Army and worked as an engineer in the semiconductor industry for Philips, RCA and General Semiconductor (now Vishay), earning over 30 patents during his career. Married to Isabella Schoemaker ("Bella") in 1962, they moved to the U.S. in 1967. Wim's hobbies included sailing, chess, astronomy and ice skating. Wim is survived by his wife; his three sisters, Katie, Loukie and Tineke; his three children, Willem, Nicky and Pieter; and two grandchildren, Willem and Kristen. The family and friends will commemorate Wim's life in early April.