Frederik W. van Vonno

1951 - 2017

Frederik W. van Vonno

Stuart, FL

Fred left us too soon and too suddenly. Frederik Willem van Vonno was born on May 7, 1951, to Dr. Nicolaas Cornelis van Vonno and Dr. Wilhelmina Marjorie Anne Marie Bolian in Breda, the Netherlands. At six months old he traveled with his parents and his brothers Nicolaas and Karel to settle in Curacao. When Fred was eight years old, the family immigrated to Key Biscayne, Florida, and in 1964 Fred became a U.S. citizen. Fred graduated from Miami Palmetto Senior High School in 1969. The following summer, Fred traveled to Woodstock, which inspired his lifelong love of music. He attended the University of Florida where he received a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science. After working for Emory University, he graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a Master's degree in City Planning in 1980.

As a National Parks Service planner, he was a member of the study team that conducted the study that led to the designation of the Loxahatchee River as a Wild and Scenic River. He also conducted studies of the Peace River and Myakka River in Southwest Florida. He loved his Park Service career, canoeing and hiking Florida's wild areas to assess their "recreational potential."

In 1982, Fred, the "constant student" of the van Vonno family in America, went to the University of Miami School of Law. He graduated in 1985 and began practicing law, first in Miami and then in Martin County, Florida. As a Senior Assistant County Attorney for Martin County from 1988 through 2000, he wore many legal hats but he was most proud of his work assisting Martin County with many of the County's purchases of park land and conservation land, including Indian Riverside Park.

Fred was a Board-Certified City, County and Local Government lawyer. In 2001, Fred joined the Law Firm of Fox, Wackeen, Dungey, Beard, Bush, Goldman, Waters, Robison, van Vonno & McCluskey, L.L.P. In his later years he was the attorney for the Martin County School Board and served as a Special Magistrate for Palm Beach County.

He met his wife Nicki Belville in Atlanta, GA, in 1982 while he was working for the National Park Service and she was a student in the City Planning Master's Program at Georgia Tech. Because he was her Prince, she followed him to Florida and they married in 1987. They recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. They are the proud parents of Annelies Theresa van Vonno, named for her two grandmothers and in tribute to her cousin.

Fred is predeceased by his father Nicolaas, his mother Anne and his stepfather Reinier Zappey. He is also predeceased by his brother Klaas van Vonno and his wife Nel; his brother, Jan van Vonno and his wife Troel; and his sister Margriet Heufke-van Vonno and her husband Rene. Fred is survived by Nicki and Annelies, and their "other daughter" Kathy, one of Annelies' dearest friends. He is also survived by his brothers Nick (Sue) van Vonno, and Karel van Vonno, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Fred loved music, old cars, sailing and the natural world. He loved to travel the world with his family and he loved to putter at home. He was the sunshine, he made us happy. He was an amazing father and a devoted husband. He will be sorely missed.

Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on Wednesday, November 8, 2017 at the Forest Hills Funeral Home, Palm City, FL. The funeral service will be at 11:00 AM on Thursday, November 9, 2017 in the funeral home chapel. Interment will follow immediately in the Forest Hills Memorial Park, Palm City. www.foresthillspalmcityflorida.com