We managed to get in touch with the daughter of the deceased ‘neighbourhood friend’ Paul from the Jordaan. The daughter, who is called Daila, was eventually informed by her half-brother, who had received previous reports about Paul. AT5/NH Amsterdam spoke today with Amsterdam-born Daila about the search and her father.
“Very special and moving”, Daila calls the effort that the local residents have taken. “It made a deep impression on me.”
Paul had lived in Amsterdam for years, the last few years he stayed in the Anjeliersstraat. He was around all day and chatted with many local residents. After his death, local residents made an attempt to find Paul’s daughter.
Paul was born 72 years ago in Trieste, Italy. Early on, he emigrated with his mother to America, where he grew up. He later returned to Europe. He lived for a while in Sweden and France, before finally settling in Amsterdam.
daila
Daughter Daila was also born there. She had little contact with Paul during her childhood. “He wasn’t someone who had a phone and texted you once in a while,” she says. “I spoke to him now and then, for example when I ran into him.”
“When I moved to Sweden, I became more curious and I felt I was old enough to ask certain questions,” says Daila. “I then visited him in Café ‘t Smalle during a visit to the Netherlands. In recent years we had better contact as a result.”
Daila also recognizes the image of a ‘neighbourhood friend’ that people from the Jordaan have of Paul. “I often saw him walking myself and I often heard from friends that they had chatted with him for a while,” she says. “No doubt I inherited some of his genes. I am very proud of where I come from and who I have become.”
‘Important’
Elly van Sluijs, the local resident who initiated the search for Paul’s next of kin, has meanwhile been in contact with the daughter, who has been living in Sweden for years. She is happy that she was able to contact the daughter. “It is very important that we were able to tell. If your father has passed away, you should of course know that, even if you have not had any contact with him for a long time.”
Paul’s funeral, which is being arranged by the municipality, has yet to take place. Elly hopes that Paul can be buried by the end of the week.