Bert Bochove
"The Bochoves were exceptional. Bert was an even tempered man, always kind, liked by everyone. Annie was introverted but easy to talk with; she was kind and soft-spoken. . They didn't congratulate themselves for being good; it was just natural for them. Bert, as nice as he was, seemed to always have everything under control; he arranged everything. You knew he was the boss; he ran the shop and Annie ran the house." |
From the moment I came to Huizen in January '44 until the end of the war, everything that happened to me went through Bert Bochoves. He always knew; he always helped; he did the arranging. I'm sure he forgot all about it because I was such a small part of all the work that he did, but I remember quite well; the things he did were very, very important to me." |
"From August 1942 until May 1945, we lived under the care of the Bochoves, both in hope and despair. We were thankful for the shelter but depressed knowing that our presence was putting our best friends in deadly danger." |
If I was not Christian, I would still do it. You have it in you. The first woman to come to us was a good friend of Annie's, and likable, the last person you could say no to--it was impossible. Then you see that your house is more or less the perfect place for giving help; you have the feeling that you can do a good thing. You help people because they are human and you see that there is a need."
-Bert Bochoves