To Pim

Some two or three years ago, after I had given a guest lecture at a University, one of the students approached me, introducing himself as Pim. He immediately struck me as very cheerful and serious at the same time. He soon came to do his internship in my office, for which I was his mentor. In the next half year or so that first impression was only reinforced; he was the one who made sure we always had a laugh at work, making jokes and having a good time, while at the same time being so serious about the task he was facing, proving to have a great professional career ahead of him. He was sure about that future from the start: he would become a Fire Chief, that was sure and no-one would deny him that. The last thing I knew he was indeed working for the fire department.

Today I learned that Pim, together with his girlfriend, was in the plane which crashed in Libya two days ago. He would have returned from his holiday in South Africa. I still can't believe it.

Here's to you Pim. I hope you can extinguish your fires while making everyone laugh where-ever you are now. Rest in peace.