The last time I saw Sjoerd was at about 8pm on Tuesday. I wandered by the ICT unit, and Sjoerd was still working away in his corner.

The happiest I think I ever saw him was when I took that picture. He started grinning as soon as his boots touched the ice, and kept smiling long after we put it behind us.

Farewell Sjoerd,

"Santa Claus Angry Brother" was a nickname that he never really dismissed. His usual reply when I was contacting him for assistance was "What again? Did you break everything again?" , but then he was staying up over instant messanger till 2 o clock in the night to help me out.

As Brian said, at first he was scary: he was grumpy and shouting at everyone, but then he never let anyone wait. He just did it. The times that we walked together the streets of Amsterdam he was always telling me the history of each building. Each building. I don't know how he knew them, but he did.

There was not a single time that he turned down the opportunity to walk in Amsterdam. A few times he left back his bicycle just for the sake of walking.

I cannot imagine visiting Amsterdam again and coming to the office, and you not being the first person to say goodmorning.

He was planning to retire in Tazmania, I guess now Sjoerd this plan is out of the question.

Farewell my good friend, farewell.

Konstantinos, aka Koyan

I'm at loss for words and so sad...

Sjoerd was a great man, truly a legend among us long time IT-geeks of Greenpeace. He was already legendary when I started back in 1993 and whenever I got the chance to deal with him in person I felt very special, he had a way of giving you his full attention even if you knew he might be working with so many other important issues at the time.

The first time we met in person in Amsterdam was one of those moments you get when you know you've met one of your own kind.

I am very sad and I will miss you very much, your contributions to Greenpeace and to my personal life will never be forgotten.

/Peter

Sjoerd, I will miss you.

Sjoerd was the first person in Greenpeace International I exchanged e-mails with. It was many years ago, the Internet wasn't what it is now, but he knew the organisation had to step on the Information Superhighway because it was going to change forever the way people communicate and interact with each other. He knew it.

Sjoerd knew many things, but it wasn't just bits and bytes, his passion for travels, adventures and nature brought him to many places and he always carried the memory of those experiences with him. At the dawn of the new millennium, Sjoerd was on a sailboat in the Southern Ocean, relaying messages coming from all around the world. He emailed me saying he was enjoying every bit of that moment.

Sjoerd, thanks for what you've given us, we will always miss you.

Brian's captured Sjoerd brilliantly. Sjoerd was totally consistent and completely reliable. He was someone you could always count on, anywhere on the planet, no matter where he was. Determination and, yes, vision. We just couldn't have functioned without him, in the pioneering days. He really made his mark.

Sjoerd - thanks. For everything. Duncan.

I worked with Sjoerd for two years and almost without exception he was first in and last out, making sure that the network got the 24 hour support it needed. We disagreed on, well, almost everything, but he always did what he felt was best for Greenpeace and kept systems running through what often seemed to be a sheer effort of will.

If he was grumpy he never meant to be. I watched three different managers try and talk to him about customer service, but he never quite understood where he was going wrong. Requests for help got near instant responses, even if the responses left the recipients confused rather than helped. He'd always explain things exactly right, even if the questioner had no hope of understanding the answer. Old timers quickly learned that it was best to explain your problem and leave it at that, things would always get fixed.

I'd known Sjoerd for some time before someone else told me about his role in the Antarctic. He'd never bring it up, but he would talk about it if you asked. The man played a role in saving an entire continent then came back to Amsterdam to wrestle with servers and networks. His was a unique life, and far too short.

Can´t believe Sjoerd is dead. The way I remember him is Sjoerd being at sea, Sjoerd being in his beloved Antarctic , Sjoerd taking care of the GP Antarctic community and - Sjoerd in 2005 on a sandy beach off Waiheke, standing there barefeet, sunglases on, green cap on his curly grey hair and looking very happy...
Farewell Sjoerd!

Irmi Mussack

As Koyan said, Sjoerd was first described to me as "Santa Claus' grumpy brother" - and was a bit scary for the first few months I worked with him. Eventually, though, the heart of gold was apparent. Always obvious, grumpy or not, was his love of his work. He didn't have patience with people who weren't working primarily for the good of the organization, and beyond that, the planet.



Sjoerd did things that will remain quietly unknown but that are (I believe) a huge part of how activism and the internet are intertwined these days. Over time, with enough beer and jenever, one could get him to share stories of his past travels and triumphs. He was the go-to person for questions of Dutch history ("what are the three X's for?") and of GL3 and orginizational history history.



I'm proud and honored to have gotten to work and socialize with Sjoerd, and deeply sad that he won't be there to drag me out for a beer the next time I visit. He taught me many things, technical and otherwise, that I'm not sure I'd have learned as well without him.



Goodbye my friend - may you enjoy belly dancing wherever you are now!



-Sarah (former GL3-team member)

I am saddened by the news of Sjoerd’s death. It’s a while ago since we were members of one overwintering team at World Park Base on Cape Evans but the memories of Sjoerd’s enormous contribution come alive easy. He was extraordinary in his technical skills, and so was the way Sjoerd communicated with us who were basically computer illiterate at the time. When we were faced with a computer problem while typing our Antarctic Diaries, we’d draw matches to determine who would have to ask Sjoerd. We feared the nights when he cooked dinner, but had many great dinner conversations.
We heard him at night in his radio room, making contacts to amateur radio operators around the globe. Sjoerd was a great communicator through a radio. When we were on field trips, and Sjoerd back at the base, we had great exchanges; he enjoyed these talks, up-dated us on news, even one time played music to us while we were tent bound in a severe blizzard. He was our life line to the rest of the world and we knew we could absolutely rely on him. It was a perfect match to have a technical genius and radio comms fanatic who liked to spend his time indoors with his gadgets on a team of which the other members needed and wanted to travel in the field and work outside whenever possible. No doubt though that Sjoerd had a great love for Antarctica and felt strongly for the causes we all were, and are still, working for. He just didn’t talk so much about it but went about his work - usually wearing big green down slippers and a Greenpeace sweatshirt.
Ultimately, during the year in Antarctica, all involved took the difference in the way we were with humor and genuine appreciation for each others skills and roles. Even though physical activity was not his favorite or strength, Sjoerd would do his part, was very aware of the challenges of the environment we were in and prepared to help whenever needed. I got to know his caring attitude early on in our team work, before we even left for Antarctica. During our training in ice and survival skills in New Zealand’s Mt Cook National Park, a few of us were at the hut while Keith and Wojtek had gone back to haul more gear up the track. When darkness was imminent, it was Sjoerd who said “lets go” and him and I set out down the track to meet our team mates, or at least shine a light for them. I remember Sjoerd balancing in the dark out onto a wire swing bridge above a deep gorge, to be able to see down the valley and spot our colleagues. Surely not his cup of tea, but he did it without hesitation. Likewise, when it came to fixing equipment, Sjoerd could scale antennas and towers. He had a way of dressing too lightly for the cold outside, since he did the outside jobs always as fast as possible.
Sjoerd’s work and dedication was outstanding. We were extremely fortunate to have Sjoerd as the communications engineer on the team and at the station. It made for reliable links to our logistics in NZ, to Greenpeace offices around the world and to the media. It was crucial for our operations and for the effectiveness of the campaign. Having e-mail connection (“comet”) in 1988 from an Antarctic Base, put the Greenpeace Antarctic effort at the cutting edge and earned the respect of other stations. Sjoerd’s skills with communication technology also brought us closer to other stations around the continent and in regular contact also with the Australian station, where Sjoerd was known from his previous work.
Through Sjoerds effort we have been kept up-dated and felt connected to the people involved in the Antarctic work and to other ongoing efforts, until now. Thanks for all of that. We will remember you Sjoerd, for your extraordinary skills, more even as a reliable friend.

I first met Sjoerd in Sydney in 1987 when I was putting together our team for World Park Base Antarctica and took him on as our winter-over radio operator. It soon became clear he was a somewhat eccentric if not extraordinarily gifted technician. He talked to me in a language I barely understood. And so, completely baffled, I advised we hire him. It was a privilege to do so. In the following 20 years his contributions to Greenpeace have proved incalculable.

Because of this early meeting I'm quite sure I was one of, if not the first in Greenpeace to have ears burned by acerbic comments about my clay fingered attempts at mastering the computer. I now hold these dear.

Those years in the Antarctic we traveled far and wide crossing sea ice and mountains doing Greenpeace work, spending weeks in the field many miles from base and into some very remote and fantastical places. As radio operator it was Sjoerds job to maintain the base and daily radio contact with us during these times away. He kept a vigilance and radio lifeline we came to depend on. I know he enjoyed those weeks alone at the base. It suited his solitary nature.

On one occasion, while moving up the Wright glacier, across McMurdo Sound, we were overtaken by storm, visibility dropping to zero. With crevasses ever present, safety dictated we stop and quickly make camp. After setting up the tent and stringing out the radio antenna, we dived inside to brew up hot drinks and wait out the weather. Feeling somewhat exposed with the wind picking up, I radioed base to let Sjoerd know our location. Standard procedure. We didn’t say much, but he asked we keep the radio on. After a few moments, we began to hear sounds of music drifting across the airwaves and into our little tent. Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. It may not be your cup of tea, but I’ll never forget it. With the wind buffeting the tent, that music was comforting and sweet indeed to our ears. He played the whole album.

Not much of a story I guess, but it meant a whole lot to us then.

That’s Sjoerd, a little impatient when trying to explain diopixel digital nano co-axels or whatever the hell they are, but a kind and caring guy, deeply concerned about and dedicated to our Antarctic team and the environment we all try to protect.

I’ve lost a good friend today. We all have.

I’ll keep the radio on Sjoerd, we’ll be listening.

As a junior sysadmin working on the Hotline, Sjoerd-the-grumpy-sysadmin was sometimes the bane of my existence. He could be difficult. He had his ways of doing things and he wasn't going to change them. I might even have called him a "BOFH" once or twice, a joke he understood but a charge he denied.

But it didn't take me long in Amsterdam to see another side of Sjoerd. He consistently and steadily encouraged me to practice Dutch. He filled in my gaps in knowledge and explained nuances I'd missed in class. He told me bits of history and local stories and the kind of things you can't learn from reading just one book or even several.

Sjoerd encouraged me to try new things. He patiently explained how a system was setup and why, and what to do to fix it. He sacrificed of his time and sleep without hesitation. Sjoerd spoke warmly of his plans to retire in Tazmania and his fondness for that remote, quiet life. I wish he could have seen that.

Farewell, Sjoerdje.

Tyler

Oh Sjoerd! I cannot believe or accept this.

You were one of the kindest people I have ever met and it was a great honour to have worked with you.

For all the apparent grumpiness, it was your humanity and humour that shined through. A kinder soul you could not meet.

I will never forget the IT Department Friday lunches at Cafe De Hoek where you introduced us all to the delights of the "Super Speciaal" uitsmijter.

The conversation around the table was always so diverse and so entertaining - in large part due to your immense knowledge of just about everything - you were so much more than a geek.

Farewell dear Sjoerd.

Love, Jen

“Death is not extinguishing the light; it is only putting out the lamp because the dawn has come.”
Rabindranath Tagore

My only wish is that I had known the gentleman.

Tragic news - I like to imagine that all rainbows have a purpose; perhaps a tiny farewell was behind this one.

Personally, I only had one conversation with Sjoerd (I don't remember the techy specifics of it, though HE probably would've!!) and I just had to add here that he certainly didn't appear scary, grumpy or angry to me. In fact, I remember him crinkling up a big smile when he saw my face and realised I had barely understood one-tenth of what he'd just told me my problem was, before telling me (quite patiently) that it didn't matter if I understood, since he knew what was wrong and how to fix it.

May he find happiness and peace, wherever he heads next.

Three and a half years I worked with Sjoerd and for all the ups and downs and hard times, and for all the grumpy gruff stubbornness, my time at Greenpeace would've been very different if I hadn't been accepted and welcomed by Sjoerd.

He made me feel appreciated and I'll never forget the day shortly after I joined when he said if I needed access to anything I could have it - his seal of approval on my work, and his trust, were both v appreciated.

The few times I socialised with Sjoerd outside of work I got to see a side of him that was very warm and comfortable. He was a passionate geek when it came to many things, not just IT.

Sjoerd, you won't have to watch any more friends leave, but I wish it hadn't happened this way. My thoughts are with you, wherever you are old friend.

Sjoerd's typical morning greeting "Moguh", him putting his jacket on the coat rack and retreating in his corner: a seemingly simple routine that is now lacking and leaving an empty void.

You will be missed.

I still cannot believe it. I can't believe he is not with us anymore, that he's left and is harbouring his soul in those places he loved so much (Antarctica and here, Australia). I was looking forward to his next trip to our shores to introduce him to Zeek, our son.

I can't find the words to express my grief. I was, as a mutual friend told me yesterday, still waiting for a miracle, for this to just become yet another adventure from Sjoerd, like his trips to Antarctica, or to the Southern Ocean, i.e. an excuse to get together and talk until the early hours of the morning.

Both Danielle and I had the privilege and the honour of knowing this outstanding man.

We miss you, I hope that wherever you are, you are telling them how it is.

Dear Sjoerd,
Wherever you are, I believe that you will ‘receive’ this somehow. It’s hard to think of anyone else who worked for so hard for so long with so little acknowledgement. I was lucky to learn enough of your language to be able to keep learning from you, so once again, thanks for everything. With love and respect.

Dear Sjoerd,

Although i only knew you for a few months..i'm heartbroken and shocked

no other words come to mind, only sad feelings left

I will miss you
Farewell and till we meet again

Dear Sjoerd,

I remember meeting you in the Greenpeace Office in San Francisco all those many years ago, as we prepared to ship all sorts of odd bits and pieces which completely mystified me, but you knew what each gadget was for and most likely bored me senseless trying to explain their meaning as we got them ready to ship to New Zealand for the Antarctic campaign - since those early days we have seen each other on and off and the times you have spent visiting us here in New Zealand on Waiheke, staying in the bach are filled with very happy memories. You have been a constant in my life and a true friend. I am happy you had the chance to meet Stella the last time you were here as well.Your dedication and love to and for the planet are a true inspiration to me. I will miss you Sjoerd, fair winds my friend.

I tried to post a comment earlier but couldn't get it to work. I guess I used to know someone who could tell me why not.

As Brian quoted and Sjoerd knew only to well, computers often have a problem with me. But anecodotes never quite capture the truth and the truth is Sjoerd always fixed the problem and always found a way.

No matter what time of day or night I called to tell him I'd broken the network, crashed GL3 or some other binary faux pas, he alawys fixed it -- once I even called him in the middle of the night to confess that I'd forgoten my password and could he give me new one so I could send out the pictures and press release from an action. Needless to say 15 minutes later I was able to send out the pictures ...

Much as I suspect he'd have been happy if my clumsy fingers and brain never again interferd with the perfect logic of my lap top, he always fixed it.

A little like Star Trek's Scotty he would tell me that it was a big problem and it'd take at least 24 hours to fix, but not too worry he'd have it back up and runnning within the hour!

A little grumpy on the outside perhaps, but all heart and dedication on the inside.

Sjoerd,
Je te remercie et te pleure de France.
Pardonne-moi, on ne peut pas dire l'émotion dans une autre langue.
Tu aurais deviné. Je te l'avais dit à l'issue de notre long entretien : tu es parmi les purs. Ceux du mythe et de l'arc-en-ciel.
Et tu as été si humain.
Tu disais que tu ne voulais plus t'attacher de peur de souffrir. Et tu ne sauras pas combien tu étais aimé.
J'apprends à l'instant cette nouvelle étrange et terrible.
Et je n'y crois pas.
Et je repense à ta passion.
A Greenpeace et à l'Antarctique. Aux ordinateurs et aux réseaux. Pour notre planète.
Non, vraiment, je n'y crois pas. Mais tu aurais ri que ce soit à vélo que le destin t'arrive.
Tu m'avais parlé de ces dix ans de jours et de nuits passés à construire le réseau de Greenpeace longuement. Vainement croyais-tu parfois. On sentait ton immense douleur et ta solitude choisie.
Mais il y a tous ces amis de l'autre bout du monde. Ceux avec qui tu faisais oeuvre informatique chaque nuit. Leur deuil doit être bien lourd ce soir. Et pour toutes les nuits à venir.
Merci encore de t'être prêté au jeu du père Noël pour une petite stagiaire que tu ne connaissais pas et qui ne te reverras pas. A son grand dam.
Adieu dit-on chez nous, et j'aimerais y croire.
Anaïs

Very saddened to hear of Sjoerds untimely passing. I remember sharing good times sailing with him on the old MVGP down to the ice and at Grace Base. I also remember his generosity in sharing his warm Gasperplaas apartment when I had nowhere to stay during an icy winter visit to A'dam. I would have liked the opportunity to have returned the kindness in Tassie but, sadly, that chance is gone....

Will always remember you with fondness Sjoerd.

An extremely sad time for antarctic and ocean protection, and for all of us privileged enough to have been able to work off sjoerd's massive contribution. Scary at first meet, grumpy at second(and third,,, and fourth....) meet, but you always knew there was a gooey soft supportive side - as long as it didn't involve some stupid thing you had done with your computer!

I cant think of GPI with Sjoerd - it doesnt quite seem complete.

Sjoerd, we know you are now reorganising the IT systems wherever you are.

You will be missed more than you could know.

I was so sad to hear this news. Sjoerd helped me on several occasions when the IT system got the better of me. I am so sorry that he had to die this way, and too soon.
Anne Summers

We at ECO are enormously sorry to hear that Sjoerd has so tragically died. We worked with Greenpeace and others in ASOC since Greenpeace joined the Antarctic campaign. Sjoerd's and Greenpeace's work in the Antarctic at World Park Base was vital and audacious, challenging to the Antarctic Treaty States and the communications inspired the rest of the coalition campaigners of the day. The first return of the vessel to New Zealand after the season was always an exciting time for the land lubber campaigners like myself.

The technical knowledge that Sjoerd and Greenpeace brought to ASOC helped all of us in other organisations as we were helped onto Comet too and given technical advice remote.

For several years one of ASOC's great strengths was that our association through Comet gave us much better communications than many of the governments.

I mourn Sjoerd and salute all of the Greenpeace people who have worked for Antarctica in the 1980s and since and those who continue to work now. May that work be dedicated in some part to Sjoerd.

Sjoerd, you ol'mate...
I have flash backs to 1987 when i first met you here in Auckland/NZ, preparing & going on your first Greenpeace Ant.X trip...
Flashbacks of sitting in the GPNZ office & listening in to your conversations with Martini, Carol Steward, Elaine Shaw and others.
Then your return, with this huge grin on your face & hugging me on the wharf.
The same happened all over the next year...
After that, we often linked up while i passed through the office in Am*dam
You was always there and available to help out with my computer problems and to set-up the Gjkoa website (+later the reunion website) and just be there (a seemingly constant), ready for an early "morge Rinus" and a brotherly hug. The time to talk about our GP and other adventures & misadventures...
Your hopes of eventually retiring to your property in Tasmania. The last time we met seems not too long ago... It was here on Waiheke Island -3 years ago- when you also came over for the Antarctica X.reunion & we all celebrated the friendship and special bond we share.
We're trying to organise an other one next year & expected you to be there as well.... Now you won't, but we'll remeber you, plant a tree in your honour and rememerance over here besides the one we'll be planting for Chris Robinson and Hans Monker, near by David McTaggard's memorial olive grove here on the Island at Awaawaroa.
I'll never forget you bro'!

Dear Sjoerd

As recently as two weeks ago we exchanged emails about the conservation of Antarctica.

Your commitment, integrity and skill have made an extraordinary difference and one that can never be filled now.

Where you travel now is a mystery to me, however I hope it is filled with digital challenges and the beauty of nature unchecked by human frailty.

10101111000011100

Adam Blakester (ne Foster)

Sjoerd you were great and straight. Last time was right here on Waiheke for the reunion. We all struggled at first with the reunion 2005 list and you couldn't understand why none of us grasped the simple things you had to do to access the list.
You had made it simple and indeed in the end it was simple. Sjoerd, i miss you a lot and will never forget you.

go well, bro

Brian's obituary describes Sjoerd to a tee, except for his assumption that those of us who sailed with Sjoerd knew a different fellow. He was in fact just as gruff, irascible, and iritating at sea as he was on land. Nonetheless I appreciated his broad knowledge, his dry humour, and his unfailing sense of duty. I have no idea how we will all stay connected without his dependable, precisely configured listservs and detailed photo-sharing instructions. I can only hope that he's just moved on to manage the slightly more subtle communications system that connects us all. Sjoerd, I regret there won't be any more reunions in this life. Rest in peace.

Chris is there with Sjoerd, his hand on the tiller, to guide him through the narrow channel into the ever after. There will be whales and there will be ice and the beauty of creation will soothe a traveler; he will feel at home, that he has come home.

Sjoerd made sure those warriors from before stayed in touch, and for this I am infinitely grateful. He brought them together at the Reunion 3 years' ago, and I remember his smiling face and the twinkle in his eye. It was such a happy occasion and when we meet again in 2009, Sjoerd will be there, and Chris will too, there in spirit, dancing. Haere haere haere e hoa ma.

Thank you, Sjoerd.

Radio BLIZZ at Mawson Base, Antarctica will never be the same without you.

RIP

Peter Stickland Mawson 1980.

If we were to define a constant for Greenpeace International it would be Sjoerd. He, behind the scenes drove the out reach for the ORG via his constant push into the new "Internet Medium". He helped drive and set many bench marks and firsts for the world in electronic media and electronic communications. The first video transmitted off a ship to be broadcast, first email system to operate from ships at sea just to name a few. The ease at which Greenpeace ships communicated to and from the offices had an immeasurable effect on how Greenpeace ran campaigns. The style of Greenpeace Campaigns developed around the way we communicated via email. You can't imagine how a campaign like the Brent Spar would have been without Sjoerd behind his computer and his efforts. Greenpeace Campaigns were a step ahead because Sjoerd was a step ahead.

Thanks so much for helping me along the way, for sharing your stories of adventures. Like the adventure of your first beer at a BBQ in Australia, "it made me stagger like now" he said. We had been hanging on all day in the radio room of the Sunrise and now were chatting in the hold staggering back and forth. "I never had alcohol before going to an Ozzy BBQ". He still enjoyed the adventure of it, both then and hanging on in the hold of the Sunrise in the Southern Ocean.

You will be missed by so many.

R.I.P. OM
73s

Neil

SO SAD to hear Sjoerd has passed away. I had many interesting email exchange over my "user error"/IT problems over the years. Though the afore mentioned grumpiness was initial first impression for many, Sjoerd was a legend who secretely made me laugh and reminded me of the misunderstood geeks/unsung heros who support many an organisation (I'm married to a geek myself!). I've read his diary of GP expeditions many times before and am still inspired by the quiet many who graced the corner/many a GP office/space. My thoughts are with you Sjoerd & your family.

Dear Sjoerd,

It was so much fun to work with you. After I looked behind the first impression I found a man with a heart of gold and a fantastic personality.




You were always demanding a bit more than the best possible, it was a challenge to help you keeping the firewalls and vpn-servers in good shape. You made me walk on my toes, which is way better than sit back and go slow.




Demanding but fair, a nerd and geek in the best meaning of those words, serious and funny. Driven to get the best network facilities Greenpeace needs so hard for the good work they do.




With a smile I look back at our lunches. You always found a way to pay for me and somehow I never got the chance to pay the next time. You just wouldn't let me.




Sjoerd, grumpy ol' man, I'll miss you! Thanks for the great times we had, it is a pleasure to have known you!




Rest in Peace!




Jos

Dearest Sjoerd,

Who now will tell me to RTFM? Who will tell me that I am the most stubborn woman ever met? Who will fix my computer problems at 03.00? My friend, I miss you so much. Go gently into the night.

Love, Anne

I am so sorry to hear about Sjoerd departure. He represented for me an example of professionalism, dedication and integrity in times when people work in NGOs as if they were doing it in "just another job". Being two gumpry persons too often, Sjoerd and I had too many angry words in the first years we knew each other in the late 80s about the IT needs and demands of the Spanish office and the campaign ships we were operating in the Mediterranean. But then, suddenly we got to know and understand each other, and a mutual respect and consideration for each other developed. We learned to deal with each other with good humour and cooperation. Many of the extraordinary and pioneer developments in communications that made our campaigns in the ships succesful and ground-breaking would not had been possible without the quiet and serene enthusiasm of Sjoerd. Good bye and Thank you.

Xavier

So sad.

I have known you Sjoerd for 20 years now, give or take. You were always friendly and helpful.

And I did not just come to you for tech help. We had some great discussions on various strategic and tactical options for various southern ocean expeditions.

I will miss you. The world will miss you. But you made your mark on this world and it is a better place because of you.

Goodbye and sleep tight.

Like many people at Greenpeace my first dealings with Sjoerd was sending IT help messages to hotline and after one or two quick replies from Sjoerd, always having fingers crossed that someone other than Sjoerd would reply. Inevitably the reply would make you feel technically stupid (which in comparison to Sjoerd almost everyone is) and that it was most likely your fault (which probably had some element of truth in it most of the time).

However away from the computer Sjoerd always had a ready smile and cheery hello when I passed him in the office.

The definitive uber-geek but beyond the computer clearly a man with a passion for the planet and people who are passionate about protecting it.

I'll miss you Sjoerd,
Tom

There'll be another network in heaven tonight.

I too am hugely upset at the news that Sjoerd has died.

Sjoerd, you were one person on whom I could totally rely to help. Even with the most simplest of requests. I have called u and e-mailed you from different parts of the planet at all times of the day or night and you have constantly been able to fix my oh so simple problems - well - they were simple to you.

Once, I remember calling you from Russia and I couldn't get the e-mail working. In exasperation you asked me if I could pass the phone to someone with intelligence that you could speak to - there wasn't anyone - only me. But you persisted and fixed it.

You had a huge heart and your soul I tust now finds contentment and rest. You are truly one of Greenpeace's heroes.

Love, Paul

Sjoerd,

I will miss you, as so many will... I can still remember the first time I meet you, I was so green in the greenpeace IT and you were so kind to explain all the things I had no idea that even existed. Afterwards you helped and teached me, you always had an explanation along with the solution with the hope that I also understood the problem so I could solve it the next time...

I don't really know what to say, grumpy? yeah, in apereance, but always willing not only to do your job but to help. And often with a big smile hidden behind the beard.
I remember asking for help, then looking at the clock and making the time conversion and asking you ¿What are you doing connected at this time?

As I said before, you will be deeply missed, but I wish you enjoy your rest, since you earned it with no doubt. We will try to take the post from here, after all you tried really hard to teach us how.

Farewell Sjoerd, Friend, Teacher and Support.

Ernesto

Stalwart friend from the start, magician and activist with a big heart - Sjoerd, farewell mate.

I pray for Sjoerd's soul. Had few friendly moments of interactions with him. He was very helpful in advising me on buying house in Amsterdam. There were those usual - Goed Morgen wishes - whenever I went to IT. I never missed wishing him - He sitting silently in the corner, and nodding me back with a smile. We will miss a good soul. My prayers with the family too.

Love,

Raj

It was always so obvious that you are one of those that really knows what is going on, totally grounded and realistic. Your support through recent troubles and your gallant fight for commonsense warmed my heart. I am so sad that you left so suddenly. You had an amazing life and we all thank you deeply.
Good luck Sjoerd
Respect,
Adam

I was one of several of Sjoerds colleagues who saw this full rainbow in the Dutch sky on Wednesday morning at around 8.30. It must have been Mother Nature’s honorary tribute to a true Rainbow Warrior.

Sjoerd was one of the first Greenpeace people I met at the coffee machine when I joined in late 1989. At the time, most businesses were starting to use computers for word processing and accounting – yet Greenpeace was pioneering the use of email and sea based satellite communications way ahead of most. I soon learnt that Sjoerd’s was one of the very small number of unique brains on the planet that built and maintained those miraculous systems.

Through others of course, not from his own words: although we’re both Dutch, he predominantly spoke “Classic Geek”, a language way beyond my comprehension. His love for this precious Earth that we humans all completely depend upon was the engine behind his unstoppable, relentless hard work for Greenpeace. He showed it by never once to my knowledge letting any Greenpeacer with a computer problem down. While he’d lecture us in curt, to the point sentences on our clear and present all round incompetence in dealing with computers (and he was right of course: nothing is ever the computers’ fault!)

Life in GP will not be the same without Sjoerd. With his groundbreaking work he contributed to every single one of Greenpeace’s campaign achievements since he joined -- in ways that are difficult to explain to non-IT specialists, and perhaps all too easy to forget. I’m happy to be one of a significant number of people who won’t.

Dear Sjoerd,

You grumpy man, it's true and "eigenwijs" yes most agree, but over a period of more than 30 years I can,t think of many people who have inspired me more wiyh thier truly generous spirit than you. This was not always apparent when one was in need your expert knowledge on all things electronic and I join many who "dreaded to ask" but knew all too well that Sjoerd had the answer.Sjoerd our times with you came and went as our life situations and places we call home changed, but your consistency, reliability and enthusiasm never did.I recall many special times with you in Oz, sailing, camping and socializing, many late night in depth discussions, your interest was broad and your knowledge deep.You got very seasick very often and pleaded could you please stay at the helem where you managed best, once on shore you wanted to know when the next trip was. I was looking forward to your planned visit this Oz summer and can;t believe I won't be visiting you next summer in Amsterdam.Your trips and experiences in the Antarctic were part of the early introductions and it is because of you that I truly want to visit that place, I remeber the slidenights with stunning photographs that went on and on..... if only Sjoerd we could have one more night...
You were a true warrior and the world is a better place for you having been in it. Now you are part of it forever. I will never forget you.

Sail along Sjoerd

Sjirk

Bad year, we just have lost yet an other great soul inside/ outside Greenpeace.

He was another of these guys, many times behind the scenes that helped this organisation become what it is. I will miss Sjoerd....
I still see him with a smile in front of the coffee machine on Tuesday... can't believe that he is gone.

Thanks for all and rest in peace!
Manuel

I first met Sjoerd, oh so long ago, when first being introduced to the unfathomable technology called email! I remember going into the field with the then ground breaking system called Pegasus (the winged horse). Of course once in the field I couldn’t get it to work. I phoned Amsterdam and got Hans Monker (another ground breaking geek who also sadly passed away earlier this year). He told me to first click on the Pegasus icon. I hesitated and Hans calmly directed me to “the little horse with wings icon”! In the background I could distinctly hear Sjoerd saying, “who is that bloody idiot?”

Our relationship developed from that moment on. On another occasion, when I contacted him with yet another IT issue, his response, once I’d explained the problem was, “Well, you are an idiot!” I had to develop a strategy of “OK let’s both agree that I’m an idiot, now, can you please fix my problem?” And of course he ALWAYS did no matter when or where. Gradually as our relationship became one of mutual respect he warmed considerably to the extent that my last memory of Sjoerd was only last week when I arrived in the GPI office and Sjoerd made the extraordinary exodus from his desk in the corner to come out and greet me with a huge smile and a warm glint in his eye.

Sjoerd you’ll be sorely missed here, but I bet you’ve already started to fix things wherever you are.

In 1989, GPI moved from a small office in southeast England to our new, imposing base in Amsterdam. For some of us - including a certain young campaigner, just turned 21 - it was all a bit intimidating. There were some staff already in place when we arrived, and one of the first I met was a bearded Dutchman with a shaggy mane of hair who appeared to always have his head in a pile of motherboards and modems. I introduced myself. He grunted. Oh dear, I thought.

In time, though, I came to know, at least a little, the much softer, gentler, genuinely kind inner side. For me, the key to unlocking the code was when I started going to Antarctica. Sjoerd was not one to boast of his previous exploits, but when I became a member of the Antarctican Club, he happily regaled me with fascinating and often hilarious stories of life on "The Ice." Andrew's photographs on this page to me sum up the sheer joy that came across Sjoerd's face when he spoke of that most magnificent of places.

Sjoerd is the kind of person frequently referred to as an "unsung hero." I suspect we shall in fact see that his praises are widely and happily sung by those who knew him and know what he has meant for Greenpeace and for this Earth.

It has been a year of sad news for many of us. But I like to think that somewhere, Hans and Sjoerd are even now sailing among the icebergs, engaged in tech talk, while Chris keeps his eyes on the horizon and steers a steady course through paradise.

It’s Monday afternoon - 10 November - I’ve stepped off the Rainbow Warrior in IJmuiden, Holland. I make warme schokolade melk and listen to conversations, milling about in the vicinity of the coffee machine at No5 Ottoheldringstraat. Friends pass by, we greet each other, a few polite words and they move on. The faces haunt me, their names jumbled in the back of my head; an awkward moment and then another, pulling out the names. A man I love very much says hello. An old timer with a young face caught inside a receding curly grey hair line and similar beard. This man has followed my stories from the days of ‘Mike’s Week’ and has written often to me, encouraging me always to write more. We became friends in Cape Town when the boats were preparing to go after the Japanese whaling fleet in 2005. He was a radio-operator on the Arctic Sunrise and I took him shopping for hard-drives and ram and other things with wires attached. Then when the boats were ready, I let go the lines and watched Arctic Sunrise follow Esperanza out towards the Southern Ocean. That same man helped me set up a Greenpeace email account from his seat in the far corner of the office - that was just six months ago. “Hello Mike” he says to me today.

“Helloooo…” I smile, embarrassed at my lapse of mind. As his back starts turning towards me I reach into my mind and grab his name “…Sjoerd”. He stops for a moment, turns around, smiles thoughtfully. “Hello Sjoerd,” I say. But then he’s gone. Rainbow Warrior’s flags were lowered to half mast in Holland, three days later.

Go with love and peace,
mikemate

So sorry for your loss in such a tragic accident. My heart goes out to you all that knew and Loved him. ...and how can I think it was merely circumstance to have that rainbow appear. Love is forever for Warriors of the Rainbow. Sjoerd will always be by your side now. Bless you all...

When I was first hired by Greenpeace International in 1990 they kindly offered me a room in a house. They told me it was the Greenpeace flat, but in fact it was at that time Sjoerd’s lair. After climbing over the electrical innards of several computers to dump my bags in my room and carefully disrupting a not so clearly “ordered chaos” to find my way back, I attempted to start up a conversation with my new house mate.

A magician at work should not be disturbed, especially by a young IT illiterate fool - this was, of course, made abundantly clear to me.

Sjoerd was a magician, especially in those days where many of our campaigns and operations relied on the new alchemy of cutting edge communications technology. He often worked through the night to quietly deliver unlikely solutions to all quarters of the firm the following morning.

My stay at that house was short lived but thankfully my friendship with Sjoerd lasted for many more years. Like so many others I won’t forget his passion for the majesty and scale of Antarctica and the far flung reaches of the planet. He knew that was what each task he took on and excelled at was all about.

So much respect, such a waste, so sad.

Very sad news made its way into my mailbox this morning... I'm lost for words... It was always fun to meet Sjoerd at UNIX and Open Source conferences and work with him on technical issues (I recall the complex mail address rewriting puzzle being one of the greatest challenges).

He will be greatly missed, both personally and professionally.

Goodbye, Sjoerd.

I still cannot believe this whole thing happened.
After 9 years in GPI I lost track of how many times Sjoerd helped me. When he noticed my efforts to learn the dutch language he was encouraging and let me practice and whenever I had and extra techie question, something I wanted to understand, he was always there, maybe teasing me behind his beard but always there.
We have been lucky to meet him.
I will miss you, Sjoerd
buon viaggio

I just don't know what to say, it's so shocking, I'm so sorry I never really thanked him for everything he did to help me.

Dear Sjoerd,



I still find it hard to believe that you are no longer with us; its so sudden and so unreal. When the tragic news of your accident reached New Zealand, I refused to give up on you even though it was clear you chances of survival weren't looking good.



Greenpeace won't be the same without you. Even your grumpiness will be sorely missed.



Fair winds mate, wherever they are taking you. I'm sure you're already onto explaning the importance of open standards, open source and digital freedom.



Jan

Sjoerd's grumpiness was legendary but I can't say I saw so much of it. If he didn't offer up a smile straight away, you could get one out of him soon enough. Usually through an admission that yes, you had been pretty stupid to press that button on your lappie.

He made it possible for all of us to campaign - most importantly to commnunicate the campaigns to the external world and to organise other GP campaigners and media staff around the world in a matter of hours. That could include everything from getting images off a far flung ship to the media, tracking down fishing vessels, rewiring a public telephone to get an email out to national offices, getting through firewalls and French telecom, and generally dealing with our late night IT "stupidity". He gave most of us in the 90s our first email account and just let us rip.

I will remember Sjoerd as a kind man. I'll remember that he played a critical role in internationalising the organisation and in many of Greenpeace's wins for the environment.

my first contact with sjoerd was back in 1995 when i was office managing the gp vancouver office. i was a complete moron when it came to the gl3 system and computers in general and, ironically, i was in charge of IT as well as the office. on a regular basis, sjoerd was my email support hero - my gruff, curt but ever-efficient hero.

when i moved to amsterdam in 2001 to work in the marine unit, i made a habit of peaking my head into the IT unit since i have a special fondness for geeks. always, there was the biggest geek - sjoerd with a big smile. i can't imagine what gp IT will be without him - he has been such a pioneer and a tireless rainbow warrior.

i truly believe the rainbow that so many of sjoerd's colleagues saw on the morning of his passing was a sign from the planet. in some way, it's comforting to know that she's acknowledging another warrior leaving our mortal coil. if i believe in angels, which i think i may do, then i would have to believe that there is some kick-ass army of angels assembled out there now ready to save the planet once-and-for-all.

for all the other rainbow warriors who've gone before you, sjoerd, and for you - much love, respect and peace. my thoughts are with your family and your colleagues.

marci
out

9 years ago I was working for GPMED Turkey as a IT and Sjoerd was one of supporters of our very small office. I never met him but i always feel comfortable. He always helped us like he knew us. He doesn't know but I heart and started to use linux because of him. still using.

thanks for all.

In 1997, soon after GPI Comms moved from London to Amsterdam we decided to make the Picture Desk a global hub for distributing all of Greenpeace's photos. I can remember seeing Sjoerd about setting up a way of doing this. He said FTP was the best way to go. I of course agreed, pretending to be totally conversant about FTP but truthfully having never heard of - File Transfer Protocol.
He instantly set up the account while I stood by his desk and called it 'photos'. From that day on the 'photos' address is still in daily use for many folk and has functioned perfectly for the last 11 years- providing the organization with the latest pictures from everywhere.

I say goodbye to a colleague who has given so much more to Greenpeace besides his huge contribution in IT communications.

Sjoerd, I'm going to write to you personally because if anyone can figure out how to read this from wherever you are now, you can. You ARE GP's IT guru/visionary and will continue I'm sure.

You were on my recruitment panel for the first official web job at GPI in Ams. back in '96, after Jim Sweet advised me to apply. You then proceeded to saddle me with Gillo;-) when he applied for a job with you shortly after. Gillo and I would not have spent 5 crazy years going blind with html code and figuring out GP web strategies if it wasn't for you.

Since I left Ams for GP's eastern outposts, you have always been on stream to sort out HK black box probs, help me remotely connect up the Beijing blackbox and a host of other stupid IT philistine queries I've thrown at you over the years from the other end of the world. You (and Geoff) proposed a global network of IT help centres way back which would've made things easier for the GP frontiers, but that would've meant I wouldn't have spoken to you so much;-)

Sjoerd, I always made a bee-line for you whenever I came through GPI because I enjoyed your company so much. I could never understand why some others thought you grumpy or unhelpful or inaccessible because this was never my experience with you.

I am so glad that we were able to share time on your forays through HK en-route to your 2nd home of Oz over the past 7 or so years. Those moments we shared in an array of weird and wonderful HK restaurants, or more recently, when I dragged you out to the HK countryside for ice cold beers at that cafe on the beautiful river......

The last time I saw you was in Sept, when we dragged you out to the Laurel and Hardy and enjoyed an animated discussion with locals about GP dumping rocks in the North Sea.

That night I saw the same glint in your eye and smile on your face, that it's been my pleasure to witness many times before - this is how I will remember you.

Sjoerd, you are a talented, beautiful, committed man and I thank you for your patience, wit and expertise.

Love Martin

Dear Sjoerd,

I personally only remember your smile behind that grey beard of yours. It was among the few faces i remembered from my first trip to the HQ back in late nineties.
We have lost an unusual man at GP and my biggest sorrow with your sudden early loss that i will never know what that grim on your face meant when i was often down there arguing with your young team about yet another problem with my computer.

I hope it wasn't meant as
"another idiot who will not understand the system" but rather "yes, give them some hard time and hopefully you all learn". I tend to think it is the later.

I never asked cause i was always happy to see that smile. Now, I will have to keep guessing. The radio will be ON cause when you finish setting up the new system, i am positive i will know from you.
Keep smiling and Mahabati, Ze

A very private man, challenging, obstinate and unreasonable as any true campaigner. Passionate about his work and and making a difference, which he most certainly did. A rare sense of humour and a distinctive laugh, which surfaced more often than some might have been suspected. Integrity and dedication as great as I have witnesed. Proud to have worked with him, greatly saddened by his all too early departure.

George

Keith and Sabine's posts capture my earliest memories of Sjoerd (though I was observing that scene from the other side of the planet - I was hoping they would share a description of how he celebrated the first sunrise after a long Antarctic winter!)

My most telling memory of him, however, is of the time many years ago I was having trouble with my computer at home (whatever campaign I was doing at the time often required late-night work and I think somehow it was refusing to speak to the network at the office). He came around to the house after work, and I cooked him a meal before he started working. At some point, hours later, I went into my office/guest room to check on him. I sat on the bed which was behind where he was working and looked at the screen over his shoulder: it was a sea of code - nothing anything remotely recognizable by a mere mortal. I watched in fascination for a while, as he typed in strange commands and received cryptic responses, and wondered what sort of a brain that man must have had. At some point, I dozed off and at about 1 a.m. I asked if he would mind terribly if I went up to bed. He said no, so off I went. I got up the next morning at around 7:00, and discovered he was still working at my desk. I don't think he even noticed that he'd worked all night, or found it particularly necessary that I be so grateful.

I was shocked and saddened at his death, and hope that his family will take comfort in reading how much impact he had on our extended community.

The last time I, too, saw Sjoerd was in the Laurel and Hardy in that conversation about dumping rocks into the sea that Martin mentions above.

Sjoerd was lively and genial and there was none of the grumpiness one often saw when on the other end of a Hotline Ticket.

One of my favourite memories of Sjoerd was in the early 90's when I was in Amsterdam, shepherding round a TV crew from Japan's biggest broadcaster, NHK, who were doing an "objective" piece on Greenpeace. We were very excited about the piece and were bending over backwards to help them.

Given it was around the time of the plutonium shipments in the early 1990's, NHK were fascinated with Greenpeace's ships.

Touring the Keisersgracht office, we arrived in the marine division and they wanted to see the computer where we communicated with the ships (set up, of course, by sjoerd).

Sjoerd was in the office, working away, and I asked him if he could possibly sit at that computer to make it look like he was talking with the ships, so the crew could film it.

"Why would I want to do that?" was his answer. True to form - I mean of anyone to ask to pose for a TV crew, Sjoerd would have been the last to agree to such silliness.

As we beat a retreat, I explained to the crew a little of what I knew of the magic that Sjoerd had concocted for the organisation, and it left them - as it did most of us - in awe.

Sjoerd, you leave a huge gap in Greenpeace. Thank you for your enormous dedication.

God speed my friend - I am hoping you've made it to Tasmania by now.

Sjoerd Jongens

I do not know you but you worked to protect us, you worked for the good of the planet that is always good to us. But now that I have read so much I feel so strongly and I feel so close to you. May God Bless Ur soul.

Kartish Vanga
Greenpeace India

Sjoerd,

U r the first one who always reply my email to hotline whenever i have a trouble with the network.

Though we never meet each other, but i know u have paid attention to other ICT person in Greenpeace worldwide. I knew it from Martin Baker, he told me that u told him if i'm good at my job as an IT person in Indonesia.
br>

Maybe i'm the only unlucky person here who had no chance to see u. I really really hoped that i can see you next year in IT skillshare. But now it's like a daydreaming for me...

What u have done in Greenpeace ICT was a great thing, and i feel honored i can learn from it..

Farewel my cyber friend, rest in peace!!

Salam,

--

iyoet

I was shocked yesterday evening when I received a mail form a Greenpeace staff about Sjoerds tragic death. As former GL3 Team member building the Swiss part of Greenpeace Intranet link. Unforgetable all discussion to use cheaper but relative reliable Linux Systems.

He will be greatly missed in this organisation and as professional staff.

I will never your support during my first days here in GPI, and your inspiring work. Keep solving problems with the same commitment, passion, inventive and patience... here we will miss you a lot.

Un fuerte abrazo,
Oscar

Farewell, dear Sjoerd!



Your humour was unmistakeable. The first time I met you, I have to confess, I was a bit frightened. But soon I knew you were a really good and great folk. Like Ernesto said: "...often with a big smile hidden behind the beard". Your ironics were wonderful! You were great always, teached me a lot. All of us learned so much with you and will never be at your skills level.



Always ready to quickly (and efficiently) help us with the IT issues... I still remember the long hours and days we spent setting up the greenbox through the terrible Brazilian phone lines...



You are a person who has the strong Greenpeace soul. The rainbow that Brian mentioned certainly was for you, your pathway to the other world.



Probably you are the guy who God needed to set up a good link between computers of Heaven and Earth. So that's why He required you!



Thanks for all!



Kishi

It was with much sadness that I learn't of the passing of my old friend Sjoerd. We spent many happy times together tinkering with ham radio over a beer or three back in the early eighties in Hobart Tasmania. He also travelled around Holland with me and a friend showing us his home and special places that he loved. I also fondly remember his tales of his many adventures around the globe and he has certainly crammed more into his 57 years than most of us will achieve in a lifetime.
Paul Waller.

Sjoerd has not left us - he'll be around forever. It will be many years until the last line of code he wrote to keep the global Greenpeace infrastructure running gets swapped out for something else. And the legacy of passionately (and stubbornly) embracing open source software will last forever. In my brief time with the IT team at Greenpeace International I developed a huge amount of respect for Sjoerd, we shared the feeling of being Dutch "but not really", while we were as different as arctic snowfields and tropical rainforests.

Sjoerd, I regret the times I drove you crazy, and I will never forget the times you drove me that way. In the end, we both did what we had to do and without you people would not have been able to watch live video from ships protecting whales in the Southern Ocean, participate in virtual marches, and many other activities that have touched the lives of many.

For all who have asked about funeral plans
Sjoerd will be cremated on Thursday the 20th at 12:00 CET.

The address of the crematorium is

Uitvaartpark Westgaarde
Ookmeerweg 273-275
1067 SP Amsterdam

His family are more than happy for his colleagues to be there.

Jezuz, what a shame, another Greenpeace legend gone to the skies! Sjoerd was totally dedicated and committed to his work for GP. He couldn't give a flying f*cK if he insulted, annoyed, infuriated the many computer incompetent fools he encountered in GP (myself included). Interpersonal & socials skills were NOT his forte, but IT skills - he was a genius. When I worked as crew manager and later as HR manager at GPI I'd have to prepare people for meeting with Sjoerd, 'cause for sure unless they were geeks, he'd give them `a piece of his grumpy mind'. Still and all, Sjoerd was very much part of the GP family and the GP spirit. I will miss him, tnx for the memories xx Grace (of Grace base!)

Sjoerd and I go back a long way first as a working relationship and then as firm and very close friends. We spent time together on Macquarie Island and then on marine science cruises in the Antarctic on the MV Nella Dan. On our last cruise together in Sept.1985 the Nella Dan (Capt Arne Sorensen)became beset off Enderby land for 48 days. Sjoerd looked after all the scientific and data logging equipment on board.Each piece seemed to have serial number close to #00001 and behave accordingly.Some how he managed to fix all the bugs or find ways around them. That was the only cruise where data was not lost. With all that Sjoerd found time to help dig the ship free. He was always cheerful and helpful although I tested him on many occassions with my ludite approach to computing,my failure to embrace linux and my inability to provide him with a half way decent cup of coffee. Later in disgust he bought me a coffee machine.

We always looked forward to his visits to Hobart. This December he was coming to stay with us and share our Christmas. We will now be one member of the family short but a place will be set at the Christmas dinner table. Sjoerd we will miss you.

Thanks for using your extraordinary skills to keep R/W and Antarctic veterans in touch with each other, Sjoerd. And thanks for being such a valuable and important member of a great overwintering team. Our loss is someone else's gain, surely. Wilx

Thanks to all those who have written above! Not only flash backs of Sjoerds Greenpeace life, but people that have come in and out of my life and changed it a little.

Sjoerd was a pillar for good and bad. Difficult to work with but a person that you could rely on. He phoned me to join my 'first' real trip, and he was always there in case I needed help to solve something that was just beyond me..

The loss of 3 persons in this league this year is too much. Everyone of you I will miss the chance to sit down and have a yarn with again.

Sjoerd, may you rest in peace, Tasmania will miss you too.

73

I first met Sjoerd during the last IT skillshare in Amsterdam, he was always a good listener and had a good advice for any question.
I'll miss him as the cheerfull and helpful man at the other end of the Hotline and I'm sure he'll be missing to all the people he worked with, family and friends.

Sjoerd was a man out of one piece. Like a rock: steady, reliable, solid, always there!
So he will be rememberd. By me, by many.
Leo

Sjoerd "RTM" Jongens, that's how I remember him. RTM standing for: "read the manual", his first reaction when you asked him how to do this or that on the computer.
When Windows was installed on our computers, I had no idea how to work with it and Sjoerd couldn't imagine that anybody could be so stupid not to figure it out. Luckily there were others in IT who could teach me the basics.
But in '91, when he and Walt were sailing on the Gondwana to the Antarctic Peninsula, he kindly made it possible for Walt and me to converse by Comet. This allowing our affection to develop. On his return he showed me all his pictures of the trip, never hinting at the correspondence. Despite all the beautiful Antarctic scenes, of course I was most interested in the photos with Walt in it.

Thank you, Sjoerd, for all your wonderful work.

Hé Sjoerd, Tried so many sentences to write to you. Maaruh, vind het vreemd dat je er niet meer bent. Had niet verwacht dat je Greenpeace voor mij zou verlaten. Dit had niet op deze manier mogen gebeuren.
Heel veel sterkte voor je liefhebbenden.
Groeten,

Sjoerd bedankt voor de leuke en leerzame dingen die we samen deden in onze studietijd op de HTS in Amsterdam en daarbuiten.
Ik heb je altijd bewonderd voor je enthousiaste en tomeloze inzet in je werk voor Greenpeace. Het paste precies bij je: je had een passie voor de digitale wereld, je was een avonturier, je had doorzettingsvermogen en kon niet tegen onrecht.
Sjoerd, het ga je goed op je volgende reis.
Je studiegenoot,
Ed Schreuders

Farewell dear Sjoerd. I have met him on 2008 skillshare which is the first time i met him in person as i only heard all about him from Geoff and Mark that's he's a good bloke. Skillshare was the only good opportunity to have met him and will never forget.

Ever since i've been sending requests or asking for advise thru email. He's been very much helpfull.

Thank you Sjoerd.

Sjoerd we will miss you!

Goodbye Sjoerd,
You got rundown much too soon and as a cyclist I know how fragile we all are. one day I really hope to live to see the end of the automobile Sjoerd. These machines don't know meaning of life. Everyday more people more animals lie hurt and helpless because of some useless need to go nowhere fast.
Rest now my friend you deserved better. Never quite understood, a visionary, another gifted excentric prophet, a skua on a windless bight.
My sorry my tears are for you Sjoerd
I wear my bicycle helmet in your memory.
Dui Mate

Wishing you God's peace , Sjoerd

I got your mail but I had not replied it yet due to my taking holiday . Of course that mail will be never been sent out but I will keep it forever to remind me had having great time to work with the wonderful man like you .

Beste familie en vrienden van Sjoerd,

Via schoolbank benaderde Sjoerd mij enige tijd geleden.
We zaten in dezelfde klas op de lagere school in Groningen.
We hebben wat gemaild over hoe het verder is gegaan in ons leven.
Een hele sympathieke, boeiende man is er nu niet meer.....wat jammer....
Ik wens allen die hem dierbaar waren heel veel sterkte toe.
Annemiek

I have known Sjoerd as work colleague and friend, for more year than I care to let on. Always at the other end of the line, be it digital or analogue. It’s hard to know he’s gone, I was trying to explain it to some one over a pint, and this is what I came up with.

When you take a walk in your favourite wood, or even down the street there is stuff that always there. You do not register it because it’s always been there and is there. Then one day its not. The big tree has gone you know this because of the hole it leaves behind.

That to me is Sjoerd, I will not really know it till I go to the GPI office and he will not be there.

So may be he not gone, the digital echoes the internet, will carry his name, picture and achievements for many years to come. May be that is the place ware geeks end up travailing the routers, bridges and screens on the digital high way still inspiring, still taking and still campaigning .

Good bye friend

I hope the memories in my own mind will not fade, work days, skill shares, drinks, meals and actions.

Joe

I was so sorry hear today about the death of Sjoerd, who I had the pleasure of (if that is the right description) with during my time at GPI in the 1990s. Grumpy, geeky, techi and techy are the right words to describe him.

His early adoption of internet and the fact that GP was the first Ngo in the world to be really successfully using the internet for fundraising in early 1993 is testimony the Sjoerd´s single mindedness and pioneer status. In 1993 we were making nearly $ 50k per month online and Wired magazine ran a 20 page feature entitled “Greenpeace Mind Bombing the Internet”.

It was an amazing pioneering time for the NGO world and GP was at the forefront thanks to Sjoerd and the geeky crew around him. For that I sincerely thank you Sjoerd for opening a whole new world to the NGO world of fundraising, campaigning and communications.

Thank you Sjoerd for all you have given the planet

Daryl

Sjoerd was special. Reading all the comments above, I sometimes can't suppress a smile, recognizing many of the typical things that made Sjoerd so special.

With Sjoerd you could have intense discussions about technical issues. I remember that people came in at the Keizersgracht office and thought we had a real fight, as we nearly shouted to each other while exchanging arguments. Sjoerd didn't give up, nor did I, we were just passionate about software and wanted to find the best solution. And after we agreed on the way to proceed, we could only laugh about those discussions.

We shared the love for Linux and other Open Source software and encouraged each other to find new pieces of useful software and new ways to integrate them in the network, for the benefit of Greenpeace. Sjoerd's requirements were sometimes very challenging, as others already pointed out, but we usually found a way to implement them. In 1996, he started distributing floppies and tapes around the world to automatically install Linux on the well-known black box office servers. Something that is pretty common now (although not with tapes anymore...), but was quite innovative at that time. Sjoerd was always very happy when he could update the list of connected offices again, after some far-away NRO had completed the installation procedure.

I had the privilege of working with Sjoerd again just a few weeks ago. It was like “coming home” and we worked together as usual, still having technical discussions now and then. And when you think you are done, Sjoerd comes with just a “small” new requirement, a tiny script he wants to have, something like that. That sometimes turned out to be not so small or trivial, but if you finally had solved it, he was always very happy with it and you were glad you could help him.

One week before his tragic death, we met each other for the last time at a Dutch Linux conference. As always we talked about the new things we had heard about, but strangely enough we also discussed some choices made in the past and what could have been done differently, as if he was making up his mind on his decades with Greenpeace.

Sjoerd has left us, but I'm sure his soul will live on inside Greenpeace's global network, where he has put it long ago.

Jos Vos

Dear Sjoerd,

I didn't know you very well, but the more I learn about you now, the more I regret the conversation we will never have.

Sad news. Sjoerd we will miss you. Catching up on your visits to Tasmania and hearing your latest adventures. Memories of our Amateur radio get togethers, camping trips fun times over a beer. Thank you Sjoerd Farwell friend.

I'm shocked and saddened to come across this news on the website today.

Sjoerd was my mentor during my years in the office in Amsterdam and, later, on the boat. With me he was always very patient and forgiving of my inexperience. Whether I had forgotten to patch a system or was off on another protest, Sjoerd understood.

I'll never forget working beside him in the office- him stirring his machine-made latte while looking into that black screen.. Guiding me through that labrynth that at the time I so little understood.

I wish I had thanked him for all he taught me.

Sjoerd, you'll be dearly missed.

Derek

the Antarctic airwaves won't be the same without Sjoerd on them. You'll be missed.
Maj

Sjoerd,

Farewell hope you find a nice place up there.

Haven't spoken to you for a long time but you've made a big impression. I'll never forget you.

Het ga je goed...

Erik

Gjeeee what another sad story: Good old Sjoerd, the one who "took me onboard" Greenpeace died and so sad to hear!

Recently we spoke about your Antartic adventures and the technical developments since then... impressive!

Thanks Bud for all the technical and digi-knowledge you have shared with me and support given throughout the years of mannning radio-rooms and in the International office as well.

Not much to say anymore..
You will be missed.

73

René Papavoine

I've been struck by how many people have mentioned Sjoerd's fantastic grin. Funny, if you had asked me about him, it wouldn't have been the first thing I would have mentioned, but now that so many others have talked about it, and seeing the photos, it has become also for me a very strong memory of him.

I first worked with Sjoerd on an expedition on board the Gondwana to the Antarctic Peninsula, which was a special voyage for me because it was my introduction to Greenpeace ships, my first time to Antarctica, and the voyage on which I got together with my husband. We were chasing Russian longliners, and I will never forget Sjoerd's dedication to tracking them on the radio, despite the fact that he was sitting in an enclosed, rocking radio room and he was quite seasick.

Since that experience with him, I have gladly ignored any grumpiness he displayed in messages about IT problems I was having. (Actually I don't think most of the time he was being grumpy--rather that he never quite grasped just how basic some people's IT knowledge actually is). He always sorted it.

I've been working with him in Amsterdam for the last few years. We didn't ever talk a whole lot, but we would often exchange Antarctic gossip and sometimes just knowing "yes we both remember the good times in Antarctica" smiles across the canteen.

Goodbye Sjoerd.

I did not really know Sjoerd that much but our paths crossed a few times. We did an Antarctic trip together in the 1990s, but I particularly associate him with Cape Evans, Antarctica, where we both worked, even though as far as I remember we were never there at the same time.

During our year at World Park Base in 1990 we had an internal email system that enabled us to communicate with Greenpeace offices worldwide. Sjoerd was instrumental in developing that system a couple of years before. I think this was unheard of in Antarctic stations at the time, and it was rather nice to have. We could receive a few lines from friends and family every now and then, which our radio operator would print out and bring to our rooms. It was great to return from the field and find those printouts waiting for us. And of course having email was very useful for the campaign.

Aside his impressive technical skills (and legacy) Sjoerd was part of the Antarctic family. And by that I mean…well, something about people who have been to the Antarctic. And more.

Farewell Sjoerd and may you rest in peace. As others I want to believe that you will be heading south.

Schok,waarom?, zo oneerlijk! Dit zijn de eerste woorden die door je heen gaan.
I joined Greenpeace International in 1990, and was really pleased to meet Sjoerd, an other Dutch person, who -although some people call him grumpy- really stole my heart. Not just because I found an other native speaking person but really because I was very impressed by his honest en joyful talks about Antarctica.
Of course I was just an other useless person with computers and Greenlink, but I will never ever forget how thoughtful -although yes indeed grumpy- Shoerd learned me the wonders of computers and helped through a panic strike moment when I needed to send something from a phone booth in Spain. Thank you Shoerd! Thank you so much for being you in saving the planet and Greenpeace. Sjoerd, vaarwel! De regenboog zal altijd betekenisvol zijn. Het ga je goed.

Thank you Sjoerd, for making me feel what Greenpeace means. You helped me a lot during my job at Greenpeace, with endless generosity and patience. You will be in my list of best memories forever.

:-/

I am deeply saddened to hear that Sjoerd is gone. Although I live far away from GPI now, I always thought I would see him again. Sjoerd had such integrity, humility, and humanity, and perhaps irascibility – I wonder if he knew what high regard so many of us had for him? I did not collaborate with him very much when I was a system administrator at GPI, but worked with him a great deal later when I wrote a history of the IT department as part of a doctoral thesis. He was incredibly generous with his time, open and not defensive at all when telling his part in Greenpeace's story, and he had a great sense of humor.

I am greatly indebted to Sjoerd, and in learning about his role at GPI – both from his own accounts and from the archives, I discovered that he was much more than a technician. He was someone who united his own passion for technology with a deep embrace of the best aspects of both Greenpeace and the progressive technology community that crystalized around the open source model.

He sacrificed a great deal to bring Greenlink into existence in the mid-90's. It was more than a technical challenge: it was a social challenge of jointly designing a global, wide-area network for offices rich and poor. In the end, Sjoerd's prescient choice to build a TCP/IP network with linux servers carried the day, and it did so mostly on the grounds of equity and international solidarity. Greenlink was the system that all of the offices could afford, and the other choices available at the time came to be seen as “elitist” in the course of the long discussions. Sjoerd then built the network on a fraction of the budget and manpower originally requested, working long, long hours. That network was a monument to the spirit... his spirit.

Sjoerd, I will miss you.

I've known Sjoerd as a very kind person, who always knew what he was talking about. We'll all miss him.

Sjoerd was a very loyal visitor of our NLUUG conferences and gave talks at several of our events about his Black Box project. Just two weeks ago we saw him at our most recent conference. It will be an odd feeling not to see him at our next conferences.

Armijn Hemel
NLUUG board

Anatta

Anicca

Dukkha


I've lost an old friend. He'll live on in my dreams.

Jim Williams.

Sjoerd, helping hand, teacher and friend.

I never thanked you enough for all the support you have given our office in Southeast Asia. Knowing you has been a blessing, working with you was inspiring and I hope those that have learned from you can pass them on to others as you have done.

Farewell. You will be greatly missed. Thank you.

Hoi Sjoerd,
Very sad time for us. Was only a few weeks ago we we're talking about SMTP settings for my iphone so I could send greenpeace emails on it. However, I have no doubt what so ever that where ever it is that you are now at rest, I'm sure you are online with GL3, VPN running and some nice bandwidth.

You will be very missed my friend.

with love,
Slade

Dear Sjoerd,
It's been hard to find the words but I think they've all been said already. We're all going to miss you mate, they just don't make them like you anymore.

Dear Sjoerd,

This news has completely caught me offguard. I will nuture all the moments that we shared when I worked for the wide area network vendor Equant. The thing i will allways remember of the Keizersgracht office is that only on our last meeting I was told there was an elevator in the building ! I enjoyed the climb up the stairs to the ICT office spaces !

Take care and we will meet again !

Tijno

Farewell Sjoerd!

The wiz kid has stopped doing his tricks for mother nature.

A true hero of the green and blue has left us.

My thoughts are with your family, friends and GP colleagues.

Please Sjoerd, if you can, do us one more favor. On your journey through the Aurora Australis, please grin for us one last time.

You will be missed.

Farewell Sjoerd!

I first me Sjoerd when we sailed together to Antarctica on the on the Gondwana in 1990. Brilliant mind, often hard as hell to get along with, loved Greenpeace and the Antarctic, could tell you to RTFM in many languages, always there when you really needed help, great ship mate, and under that crusty exterior a good and sensative man.

Another IT-wizard has gone west. A sad day for all of us.
Sjoerd was – like the other IT-wizard, Hans Monker – very much part of Greenpeace history. He was also, usually called SoJo, very much part of ANARE history.
And yes, I was there as 1st mate when the VLV Mawson Radio team 1980 of SoJo, Tom Maggs and Peter Stickland were taken to Antarctica and RTA’ed a year later. And during the besetment trip as Knowles mentioned. And yet again with the GONDWANA to pick up the wintering team well described by Sabine and Keith. As well to the Antarctic Peninsula with Walt and Sjoerd as described by Lieke.
Kate’s picture brings back memories of the Sunrise in the Southern Ocean mentioned by Neil.
Later on during that voyage Andrew took a picture of a grinning Sjoerd on the fast ice 30 miles north of Mawson Station – a magic day for the crews of MYAS and the Esperanza, and a good finish to a summer fully occupied by the campaign against japanese whaling.

So, goodbye old friend. Rest In Peace.
Arne.

No... i can't believe it...

This is really a shock! And bet you... it must have been another car causing this... this makes me angry and sad.

Sjoerd was one of the few people that could help me survive with IT in Central Europe... and that at least understood what IT security was within campaigning...

And indeed: for years not so many problems with diala than the last week... The system is angry...

This is a real real shock...

Jan

Just heard the sad news from duncan - who Sjoerd was has been so well described in the above - like Mike I found myself in Sjoerd's place in Gasperplaas - and from the start he was SO direct and of course SO helpful - whereever I was he was there on the end of the line - no bullshit - and truly one of those special people at greenpeace

Hi Sjoerd,

although we've never really met in person, we've often been in touch over mail. Mostly I was picking your brain on the technical questions and troubles we were dealing with in the office or warehouse in Belgium. And always you were out there to assist, provide the right advice and help out until things worked.

Just wanted to thank you for being there, and doing what you did in your way throughout all those years.

Farewell!

It was a sad sad day for Greenpeace and the environment when Sjoerd left us. He was right there to support some of the most amazing campaign efforts over the years as well as the little every day techy challenges that faced us all. He may not have been thrilled with the little stuff but he always came though in the end. He was one of those Greenpeace one-in-a-million characters that make it the amazing place it is.

You will be so missed and I was so sad to hear the news. The green endeavours continue in your honour!

love Blair

I don't know where to start. Sjoerd was one of the first people I met in GP, and one of the folks I bonded with the best. He was a ham (amateur radio operator) like me, a computer geek, an electronics wiz, and an obstinate environmentalist. He and I shared so much background and perspective in the world.

As many have said, Sjoerd was obstinate, pushy, and blunt. Behind that crusty exterior was a total sweetheart. He was a very sensitive, kind and caring person. I simply don't have the words to express how much he will be missed.

The world is a less-bright place now without Sjoerd in it.

It was 23 years ago that we were a guest of yours in Tasmania whilst on holiday. I can't remember whether you had just returned from, or were on your way back to Antarctica for another expedition, but in those years it was always one or the other.

Whenever I hear of Antarctica, I remember Sjoerd Jongens. To have made such a profound contribution to the world with all the resources of your intellect and self is priceless. To hear of your passing is very sad.

Farewell Sjoerd

Sjoerd I will miss you, we first met in Auckland NZ when you signed on for the Antarctic base, You stood out in a crowed, working on those silly old big laptops, every night improving something on the comms system, and the rest of us trying to chatch up on it during the day, but you also made history by transmitting life pictures form the back of Tiama at the Antipode islsands during the end of the year 2000 silyness, your love for the sea and boats was clear and I for one though you were great company, and loved you for your excentricity.

go well my friend

Henk

Just got the shock,,,,, Now I know why I haven't heard from Sojo for so long. So sorry to hear of Sojo's death. I was with Sojo when Nella Dan was beset in 1995, again we wintered and worked together on Macquarie Island 1996. We got along well and enjoyed many friendly arguments and discussions. A great and respected workmate. I have Sojo to thank for the hours of contact I had with my wife and 3 kids over ham radio. All I can say is thanks mate and farewell. Greg