Simon de Bruin, born 1876 in Avereest, was a son of Isaac Meijer de Bruin and Aaltje Leman. He married Hester Ligtenstein in Groningen 16 May 1907, a daughter of Mozes Ligtenstein and Cornelia Schooning. She was born in 1872 in Strijen, (province of Zuid Holland). The couple had four children, namely Izaak Meijer in 1908, Cornelis Alida in 1909, Alida Paulina in 1913 and Eva in 1917. All were killed in the Shoah.
Simon de Bruin’s parents were merchants from Stad-Hardenberg but moved later to Stad-Ommen but some time later they moved to Dedemsvaart, where Isaac Meijer de Bruin started a butchery at the Hoofdvaard nearby the Ommer canal. Isaac Meijer’s spouse Aaltje Leman passed away in 1888, 48 years of age and Isaac Meijer remarried some years later Judith Snijders in Enkhuizen, a daughter of Salomon Jacob Snijders and Schoontje Eliazar Heertjes. From this marriage no offspring was born.
The father of Simon de Bruin, Isaac Meijer de Bruin, was one of the most prominent Jews of the municipality of Avereest. He was one of the founders of the synagogue at Dedemsvaart and was nearly 50 years member of the board of the Jewish Congregation, as president and as cantor.
Just as his father, Simon de Bruin too had a butchery at Hoofdvaart in Dedemsvaart. At the time of the registration by the Jewish Council, they were registered at the address Langewijk 86 in Dedemsvaart, where they moved into since they sold the butchery and house at Hoofdvaart early 1938. Simon de Bruin and his wife were deported 9 April 1943 to concentration camp Vught and from there 9 May 1943 transferred to Camp Westerbork and locked in in barrack 58. 11 May they were put on transport to Sobibor, and on arrival there 14 May 1943 immediately killed.
From the book “De Joodse Gemeenschap van Avereest”, pages9-12, by Peter Makaske, published in 1992 by Servo Publishers, Adolph van Ansenlaan 16, 9451 GR Rolde (Drenthe). (ISBN 90-71918-44-0); website wiewaswie.nl, marriage Simon de Bruin/Hester Ligtenstein; the file cabinet of the Jewish Council, registration cards of Simon de Bruin and Hester de Bruin-Ligtenstein.