In Memoriam of Theodorus “Teddy” Verheyen
Name: Theodorus (Teddy) Albertus Maria Verheyen
Spouse: Pauline
Children: Naeran, Tweeran
Birth Date: March 14, 1935
Blessing Date: March 28, 1969
Ascension Date: June 27, 2019
Theodorus “Teddy” A. Verheyen passed away on June 27, 2019 at the age of 84. He lived much of his life in the United States in Tarrytown, NY before moving to Red Hook, NY in 2017.
Teddy was born in the town of Noordwijkerhout on March 14, 1935 to Antonius (Toon) Hubertus Verheijen and Johanna (Anna) Gerarda de Haart in the province of South Holland of The Netherlands. He was the third child in a family of seven children.
During WWII, Teddy’s father was drafted into the military and it fell on Teddy to make money to help support the family. While barely a teenager, he quit school, went to work, and then went to night school to learn a trade. He eventually graduated from the Marine Engineering School in Leiden, The Netherlands, and was hired as a marine engineer, sailing on a freight boat which took him to many countries, including Scotland, France, Spain, Canada and the United States. He emigrated to Canada at age 24, and by 1962 came to California where he joined the Unification Church in Los Angeles in 1963 as one of its founding members.
In 1965, he was sent as a missionary to The Netherlands. On March 21, 1965, he arrived at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam at the age of 30 with a suitcase and very little money. While living at the Amsterdam Salvation Army, he was able to translate the church’s holy book – The Divine Principle – into Dutch, a feat that greatly helped his missionary work. When he got married on March 28, 1969 to Pauline Phillips, also a founding church member in the United States, he had been living and preaching out of a house boat on the Amsterdam canal for several years
Although they started with humble beginnings, he and Pauline built up the Dutch church considerably in the next eight years. In 1970, with the help from the Vanderstock family, they purchased Huize Glory (Glory House), a castle-like manor located in Bergen aan Zee, a seaside town in North Holland. This became the new center of the Unification Church in The Netherlands. From there, Teddy and Pauline managed the Dutch church and sent the first church missionaries to South Africa, Israel, Greece, Iran and Indonesia. Teddy, along with Pauline, continued to serve as the national leaders in The Netherlands, expanding their membership until they were asked to come to the United States in 1977.
While in the U.S., Teddy served as a teacher, leader and counselor of a multinational evangelical team of 70 members. He also managed to get his Masters degree in Religious Education at the Unification Theological Seminary in Barrytown. Since graduating, he has been a guest teacher at many different universities, and eventually used this education and much independent research to write “The Deviation and Restoration of the Human Race,” a theological treatise that proposes to answer many of the fundamental questions about life and the universe that were posed to him while he worked as a church leader.
Published in 2006, his book is currently in institutions in more than 120 countries around the world, and has inspired countless people to live better lives.
Teddy is survived by his daughters Naeran Rubio and Tweeran Verheyen and grandchildren Lilly, Daniel, Nari and Lara, who currently live in New York State. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Seonghwa Ceremony
Date: Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 9:00 AM
Location: Edwards-Dowdle Funeral Home: 64 Ashford Ave, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
A 24-hour visitation will start Friday, July 5, 2019 at 8:00 AM at Edwards-Dowdle Funeral Home until Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 8:00 AM.
Flowers can be sent to:
Edwards-Dowdle Funeral Home: 64 Ashford Avenue Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
Theodore Shimmyo
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I made friends with him as soon as I came to USA from Japan in 1973. He had a good sense of humor, often making me laugh. I used to go to the theological library of Maryknoll Seminary in Ossining, NY for my theological research in the 2000s, and I saw him working as the boiler man there. I cannot stop respecting and honoring the earliest pioneers in the West such as Teddy Verheyen. Teddy, thank you for your hard work. We miss you!
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Mary Cordill
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My love and prayers to the family of Mr. Verheyen. It is always deeply moving to hear the testimony of the prepared life and sacrifices of our very earliest saints. Thank you and may your transition to heaven be smooth ….
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Dianne Kuwahara
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This makes me so happy and inspired to read this testimony. Thank you so much!
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Joe Kinney
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From my earliest days in our movement, I remember my older brothers and sisters speaking of Teddy with such respect and fondness. Those I looked up to looked up to Teddy.
Such early members knew Father in such a special way.
Respect and condolences.
Joe Kinney
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Elio Roman
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Teddy Verheyen was as good a human being as one could ever possibly meet in their lifetime. We graduated together form UTS in the early 1980’s. we had become friends. He was warm, humorous and had a nice smile. He was a genuine individual and spoke of matters of the heart. He also had a very philosophical and theological mind.
I have a copy of his book and I was surprised of the vast number of topics he covers and how much time thought and time he must have spent on doing research for the book. Many of the things he writes about are insightful and interesting.
After devoting much of his life attending True Father, I am happy to hear that his skills as a marine engineer helped him earn a living in his later years.
Respect and condolences,
Elio Roman
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Alexa Blonner
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Another of the brave American and European pre-1970 Pioneers has passed. Not too many left now. I only ever met Teddy during his brief stay in Washington on his way to Holland in 1965 but we corresponded occasionally afterwards. We were going to catch up one day when I got to New York. His faith and positivity were always amazing whatever the situation. Both he and Pauline were unwavering warriors for God and True Parents and deserve a very special place in Unification memory.
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Tyler Hendricks
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Light-hearted, blunt, humble, hard-working and deeply committed to God, True Parents and the Principle. The Flying Dutchman. He gave his life to God.
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Gary Fleisher
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Teddy, thanks for not just pioneering your country Holland, but sending the first missionaries to South Africa, Israel, Greece, Iran and Indonesia. We miss you.
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Jutta
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I was on Teddy Verheyen’s IOWC #6 in 1974, travelling on Father’s 8 city tour. We were 70 members from more than 10 countries and worked very hard to fill the halls in Princeton, NJ; Nashville, TN; Wichita, Kansas; and Missoula, Montana. I remembered Mr. Verheyen’s outrages prayers. He prayed for people not having enough room in the seats and to therefore sit on the curtain rods, and even the sealing. Teddy was an unconventional leader, making us laugh and cry while showing us his dedication and attendance to True Parents.
Thanks for the memories, RIP, Jutta Tobkin (Rembe)
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Carmen Kimura
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I first met Teddy Verheyen in Eugene, Oregon where i had met the church. He came there as an IW and used my bike to get around town. Even then he had many stories about being a pioneer. he was very encouraging to all the members.
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Edison N . Sofate
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Thank you brother Teddy for doing your best to advance God’s providence while you lived. Though difficult a path , you left everything else and went the beautiful road less traveled.
I am always moved emotionally, whenever I hear or read stories of faithful elder member’s passing.
Surely,the heavenly chariots will descend to carry you home safely. Condolences to ‘ur family.
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Carlos Figaro
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Teddy Verheyen was a synoniem, living for the sake of others. May God bless his Soul.
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NAERAN RUBIO
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Thank you to all of you for your wonderful memories about my dad. I love hearing testimonials about Teddy from members. I especially treasure the examples of his more quirky side. It made and continues to make me proud that my father was such a dedicated and unconventional leader. Thank you again for sharing!
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Judith Wilson
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God Bless the work of the early pioneers whose shoulders we stand on today. With love and admiration to you, Pauline and your family.
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Kathryn
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I met Teddy in the fall 1973. He came to Seattle as an IW, where I was state mother. My spiritual mother was Pauline’s spiritual daughter, and so I considered him my grandfather. Physically, he looked very much like my grandfather who had died just a few months before. He had a knack for seeing the core of a problem very quickly and clearly. Sometimes it felt as though he could see right to one’s heart. His sense of humor tempered the cut of the truth he spoke. He taught so much, and loved True Parents very much. God bless him, Pauline and the rest of the family. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without him. With all my love,
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Rosemary Yokoi
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What a brave and gentle man! May he rush into the waiting arms of True Father!
With respect for him and Pauline,
Rosemary and Hisao Yokoi
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Mitch Dixon
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Thank you Teddy for a life well lived. You visited my center in Miami in 1983. Your advice to me was not to become spiritually open dealing with business. You shared many spiritual experiences you have had. Thank you for your heart of love. Love, Mitch Dixon
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