Yesterday the world lost one of the best people I’ve been privileged
to know. Roelof Hattingh was one of the smartest metallurgists I’ve
encountered. And more importantly a
thoroughly decent man. He must have been
frustrated dealing with us slow people, as few people he encountered were his
intellectual equal, but he very rarely showed it. Besides brains, he was also a good artist and
good with his hands. He unselfishly
taught, mentored and encouraged. the world would be a better place had he more time here.
Only 2 of the 8 bookcases in my house are properly
square. Those two Roelof built. When he heard how long I took to make one
skew one, he came over one night, and while showing me how to do it, built two
in half the time it took me to make one.
When his interest in model airplanes overtook his beer brewing
adventures he bequeathed his equipment to me.
On his departure he left his steel magazines and books to me. I joking called it the Roelof Hattingh Memorial
Library. Yesterday morning the name lost
any humour.
Those physical things will remain with me for a long
time. The metallurgy he taught me I will
use and teach others. But most
importantly I aspire to live up to the example he set of what a good human
being is.
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