Daily Image
30-09-2010
Goodbye to All That
| Submitter: | Jan Noordam |
| Description: | Few people care to contemplate what they will be remembered for, and yet they are often surprised, or even dismayed, when they find out. Some vainly try to influence the judgement of history by manipulating the speakers at their retirement party, but by that time history has long made up its own mind. Yde Koopman will certainly be remembered by his close colleagues for his work on three world-famous cutting-edge radio telescopes over a period of more than 4 decades: The solar receivers for the Dwingeloo telescope, the backends and MFFE's for the WSRT, and the rollout of the international LOFAR stations. Some will also remember his service to local politics, as secretary of the Dwingeloo labour party. But he will be most vividly remembered by all of us for his cohesive role in the ASTRON/JIVE family, as the soul of the Cabaret. Very few organizations, scientific or otherwise, can boast such a phenomenon, which requires a lot of work for very uncertain reward. But in the better kind of management self-help manuals it is regarded as a sure sign of social health. This was duly recognized by the most imperial of ASTRON Directors. In his good-bye speech, he mentioned Yde first in the list of people that had been most important to him. The most remarkable thing about Yde's touch was his kindness and restraint on stage, even though deep down he is a rather complex man, with strongly held opinions. It was wonderful to see how, during the preparations for a new sketch, he would gently guide the sometimes bruising attempts at humour by others (like occasional collaborators) into something that was actually funny, and did not hurt anybody. You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din. We can only hope that his successors will be able to continue at the same level. In any case, it is a good sign that there are any successors at all, in this day and age. So, thank you, Yde, and your team, from the bottom of our hearts. |
| Copyright: | Harm Jan Stiepel |
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