Jacques Sipkes (1946 - 2005)

Jacobus Hendrik Albert (Jacques) Sipkes, a contributing editor with GIM International, passed away suddenly on 15 September 2005 after a brief illness. Jacques, born on 7 April 1946 in Heemstede, The Netherlands, joined the editorial board of GIM International in 2001.

Right from the start he displayed enormous enthusiasm and dedication. With an open mind he approached and interviewed many important people in the geomatics industry and the academic world.

With unbridled vigour he travelled frequently all over the world to participate in geomatics conferences and trade fairs, to discuss developments in the field of geomatics with colleagues and to share with others what he had learned by reporting on these events in GIM International. He contributed many articles to the journal on the subjects in which he was specialised: GIS and Remote Sensing. He was convinced of the great future of geomatics and was always looking for new and interesting applications of geomatics technology.

With BSc degrees in Economics and Human Geography, and Human Geography, and a MSc in Human Geography, Jacques had, in contrast to his editorial colleagues, no background in technology. Not being a tough engineer, he displayed a broad view on geomatics, which was refreshing and inspiring to us all. Sometimes he could not refrain from blaming us for our narrow technological view. Commenting on one of my own contributions, he once said: "While reading [your contribution] I was afraid that you as a technophile would get stuck in technology. But I was happy to read at the end of your Pinpoint that you consider technology not as the solution but as the beginning of any solution." For some people, Jacques was not always an easy person because he had a natural and deep aversion to pretence and insincerity.

Jacques was a hobo, a restless traveller to other horizons, a man who sought richness not in material possessions but in intellectual property and cultural experience; his richness consisted of his memories and stories. Yes, Jacques was full of stories. Jacques spent most of his life in foreign countries, preferably on the African continent. Indeed Africa was the continent Jacques loved the most. He once wrote to me: "Only Africa is a real home to me." In his late forties he found his haven in Africa, where his life companion, Adija, living in Kenya gave birth to his daughter, Zuhura, 10 years ago. Jacques and Adija had ambitious plans for their young daughter: after finishing primary school in Kenya she was to continue her education in Europe. With the death of Jacques this envisioned future for Zuhura is endangered. On his deathbed, Jacques uttered the hope that his friends all around the world would reach a helping hand to ensure the future of his beloved daughter.

We lose in Jacques a dedicated colleague, a respected friend and an inspiring personality.

Ensure the future of his beloved daughter
Financial contributions to ensure the future of his daughter Zuhura can be deposit at:
Giro 4724659, on name of F. Sipkes
Heemstede, The Netherlands