Over the years, Trommelen has opened his "new" heart to the poor by getting more involved in St. Bonaventure's outreaches.
He commits himself to this urban parish's food collection program, getting donations of countless bags of groceries and hundreds of turkeys and hams in time for the holidays. Also, he volunteers his carpentry skills to refurbish furniture, such as tables, podiums and kneelers in the church.
Trommelen also has deepened that sense of compassion during his 16 years in the Knights of Columbus. He has participated in the Citizens with Disabilities Drive and has chaired the council's food drive and winter coat drive. Trommelen often sorts through piles of donated clothes - sometimes getting them dry cleaned - and then ships them to the Father English Community Center, St. Joseph Parish and Martin De Porres Village, all in Paterson. Also, the Knights have collected toys for needy children, said Trommelen.
"I help, because I feel that people need stuff," said Trommelen, a past grand Knight of the council and former district deputy, who recently accepted an award from the N.J. Knights of Columbus in recognition of the council's successful food drive.
"People are so good in helping us. We couldn't do all this without them," he said.
It's no surprise that big-hearted compassion runs through the Trommelen family. His wife of 56 years, Jean, who works at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Paterson, remains active in charitable activities. So do their children: Mary Jane, Thomas, Lisa and Michael, and their grandchildren. Their son, John Jr., died Dec. 20, 1997 of heart disease, which also runs in the family. Trommelen quickly points out that many of his children and grandchildren have chosen careers of service as teachers, nurses, medical students, police officers and firefighters.
Earlier this year, Franciscan Father John O'Connor, provincial minister of Holy Name Province of the Order of Friars Minor, conferred the Francis Medal upon Trommelen in appreciation for his selfless service to the friars and the people of the parish.
"I was surprised. Obviously, I don't do any of this (charitable activities) for recognition," Trommelen, a 17-year resident of Totowa, N.J., said about the award, which he received from Father Grigassy and Franciscan Father Christopher Van Haight of St. Bonaventure's on April 21.
"We express our gratitude and appreciation to John, who unselfishly gives himself for the building up of the kingdom of God, for his dedication to the common good and especially for his care of the needy and the sick," Father Grigassy and Father Van Haight wrote of Trommelen, in the parish bulletin.
This was not the first time Trommelen was recognized for his service to the Church and others. He also received the Vivere Christus Est Award from the Paterson Diocese last year.
"He has embodied the values of St. Francis of Assisi by putting himself last and the work of Christ first," Father Grigassy said.
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Posted with permission from The Beacon, official newspaper for the Diocese of Paterson, N.J.