This is a very personal post. I have written directly after a close friend, big motivator and mentor of me expired. I let it rest for some time as it was too emotional for me. I was not sure to post it but I decided to do it anyway.

Before I started Javra Software in 1999, I had another company for 10 years. The reason I started my first company was because I was young, full of energy and thought that I knew everything better (some things never change). The day I started I will never forget. It was 2 may of 1990. I was working for a big company and the IT director of that company was Daan. Daan hired me 2 years earlier to help them to walk on the Progress path, a very upcoming language at that moment. Daan was not a typical boss; he was really interested in the people behind the names. When I told him on 2 may 1990 that I was leaving the company, I was very impulsive. I had no other job at that moment but I did not want to stay there as the working style was not mine. But Daan was consistent; he offered me a higher salary, a new car and some other things. But I can be stubborn and I made up my mind. I am going to start my own company.

Daan realized that he would lose me as employee so his next question came as a big surprise for me but showed his strategic vision and his capabilities as people manager. Also his very sharp mind was exposed there, not for the first time and not for the last time. “So Frank, if I cannot convince you to stay, can I hire you, what do you ask as hourly rate.” I was completely surprised by that questions as I was still full with adrenaline and did not think of it for a second. A day later I started my first company and had my first job.

In the years after that I did (also with help of others) a lot of very successful projects with Daan.

When I left my first company to start Javra, it was again Daan who came to me with new work. And I think that we as Javra, combined with Daans own IT department, did great work in delivering state of the art software, projects within budget and so on.

It also gave me the opportunity to travel for those projects throughout Europe, to China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. I met other cultures and my base for Asian sympathy was born there.

The combination worked out very well, Daan (and Team) and me (Javra) did some very nice projects. When Javra decided to open an offshore company in Nepal, Daan (and his IT manager) where the first to visit us in Nepal and he loved it.

When Daan retired  4,5 years ago the relation was still very good. It started as a purely business relation but during that long period some more personal feelings were coming in. If you are abroad under high pressure you respect each other more and more.

Since his retirement the business relation was gone but the personal relation remained. Unfortunately Daan became ill very soon after he retired. It felt so unfair, working you whole live hard and dedicated and when your working life is over, you fell sick. Very sick, in a time where you supposed to have more time for your family, especially if you have been travelling so much as Daan did.

The first years it was under control but the last year he was really going backwards. Half a year ago I had my last dinner with Daan and his very strong wife and good friends. Of course I did not realize it at that time but a few weeks back I got messages he was going backward very fast. I did not hesitate when I had a chance to visit Daan on a Tuesday with a close friend of Daan. When I entered, his kids and wife were also there. His son was just coming back early from holidays. After catching up some nice memories and stories, Daan kicked me out friendly as he did want to talk to his son.

Hours after we left, Daan went into a deep sleep where he would not wake up from again. It was how Daan was, planned everything his way.

A few days later we had to say our final farewell to him.

Daan was a very special person, in too many ways to mention. Always reachable for everybody no matter what their position in the company was. He remembered all the names of staff, but also of their husbands, kids and even more. Daan was real. Daan always had time for people. No matter what religion, color, status or culture.

I am making pictures of the Roparun for 8 years now, as sponsor and volunteer  together with Daan’s son and of course lots of others. But the next one will be special, with more dedication then ever, the next one will be personal, this one I (we) will do for you.

Javra Software is losing more than a good customer, Javra is losing a friend. A very respected friend.

We, as Javra family cannot express our thanks and feelings towards Daan.

We wish his family a lot of strength with this huge loss.

And for me as Frank, thanks Daan, I appreciate you more than I ever could express, and I will never forget you.

You have been loved. And as a very good friend of mine said, ‘you will have a business class travel to heaven’.

Frank.