06/02/2026
Hopleaf has always attracted an age diverse crowd of regulars and among them, there is always a reigning senior. In 2021, at 98 years old, we lost Turgut Dincer, a vary regular customer, friend and a fascinating man of great intellect and energy who came close to being a centurion. When he passed, the mantle was taken up by this man, Arnold Van Puymbroeck. Born in 1930, in Belgium, he came to America in 1952 and after short stays in New York and Detroit, came to Chicago at a time when Belgians dominated the local Janitors Union. He began his career maintaining apartment buildings in the Edgewater neighborhood and eventually owned rental properties in the neighborhood. He was VERY active in the Belgian immigrant community, working hard to keep alive the language and traditions among them. He was the longtime President of the Belgian-American Club of Chicago.
While being slight in stature, the man was absolutely full of energy well into his 90's. He liked a good Belgian beer and a bucket of mussels, especially on the patio during the warmer months. He was exuberantly happy and his joy was infectious. Like his predecessor, Turgut, Arnold's intellect, memory and sense of humor remained intact all his days.
It was so appropriate for us at Hopleaf to have Arnold as a loyal regular. Arnold even had an early role in bringing Westmalle Trappst Beer to to the Chicago marketplace. He had a surplus of 1970's era Westmalle glassware in his garage that he slowly depleted by bringing us a few boxes every time he came in. His favored Belgian beer was DeKoninck.
All of us at Hopleaf were delighted every time Arnold came in. We will all miss him and we won't forget him. Arnold's 96 years were long, well lived years. He made countless other's lives better just for knowing him.
RIP Arnold. 1930-2026 You were a good man to know.
Photos from Arnold's 95th Birthday party.
