Dear Pieter, I’m still in state of shock. When our dear friend Philippe called the other day around noon I knew suddenly that something terrible must have happened. I could hear it from Philippe’s voice immediately. Something was wrong. You passed away. Way too early. I still can’t believe it. I miss you. I know you for many years now. Not as long as others. But long enough to call you a friend. We spent hours together at conferences where we often met. I remember so well when you arrived at breakfast at SlOUG in Portorož one morning complaining heavily about the patching experience your most important Exadata customer had the night before. But even though you were angry and exhausted you still had this smile in your face, this sense of humor I liked so much. Or when I stepped out with my headphones on at Brussels airport for Tech Days in Belgium not recognizing the world around me. But you spotted me and offered me a spontaneous ride to Antwerp where you and Philippe had setup the Belgium version of POUG. We’ve had such a deep and intense talk in the car, as we’ve had several times afterwards again. Not about Data Guard but about life and other things. When you told me at OOW that you are seriously looking for a chance to join Oracle, I was thrilled and excited. And even though you didn’t want to join RAC development but instead became a PM, I think this was the right decision. You had to step in VERY big footsteps. Larry “Murphy” Carpenter just retired when you came on board. You were the new Data Guard PM. And you lived this role from day #1. I knew before how good you were. But you surprised me many times when we chatted on Friday about one of my reference customer’s setups, and you just went in and replicated the scenario and blogged about it. Just tech facts. No nonsense, no marketing blabla. You acted so well as a customer’s advocate balancing between development and the outside. Improving the product was your passion. We’ve had so many discussions about new DG features. You’ve not only had your team in mind but also the customers and their expectations. It was always such a great pleasure to see you and talk to you. Since this Covid nightmare started, our meetings now were limited to nightly slack chats when we both worked late and occasional zoom sessions. I just asked you a few weeks ago whether you’d like to join a call about Data Guard and Multitenant gotchas. And you delivered one of these awesome Pieter talks – honest, enthusiastic, very technical. Exactly what makes the difference. You were a sailor. And we never made it to have mussels in Brussels together with Philippe, and then spend the weekend on the boat together as we planned it for April 2020. It won’t happen anymore. I hope that you sail well above the clouds now. I’m missing you, my friend. –Mike |
Nice post Mike. Thanks for daring to write about non-technical, but more important, matters.
I cannot believe this. I was talking to Pieter last year for a few months long distance, thinking about when he would next come to San Francisco and where I would take him. I was wondering why he wasn’t responding to messages again and then when I do some searching, I find this. Heartbreaking.
Thank you Mike 🙁
Thank you, Martin 🙁
Sad for hear this from you my humbly condolence to his family members
Thank you, Syed!
😢
MIke, I am so very sorry about the loss of your friend. It sounds like all of us that use Oracle technologies will miss him, too.
Bill
Thank you, Bill!
I remember the dinner in that last photo so well. What a tragedy, to have such a young, vibrant, friendly person gone so soon. It is really difficult to comprehend, and the combination of hurt and numbness won’t recede quickly.
Thank you for your kind words, Roy!
Really sad news… I hope Pieter’s family can find the strengths!
And I’m sure you and Roy enjoyed every moment you shared with him!
—
I am standing upon the seashore.
A ship at my side spreads her white
sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean.
She is an object of beauty and strength.
I stand and watch her until at length
she hangs like a speck of white cloud
just where the sea and sky come
to mingle with each other.
Then, someone at my side says;
“There, she is gone!”
“Gone where?”
Gone from my sight. That is all.
She is just as large in mast and hull
and spar as she was when she left my side
and she is just as able to bear her
load of living freight to her destined port.
Her diminished size is in me, not in her.
And just at the moment when someone
at my side says, “There, she is gone!”
There are other eyes watching her coming,
and other voices ready to take up the glad shout;
“Here she comes!”
And that is dying.
— Henry Van Dyke
Thank you so much, Murilo!
And I hope you both are safe, and all is well!
Cheers,
Mike
Dear Mike,
I do share your feelings, being the neighbouring skipper of the Quo Vadis in Nieuwpoort harbour. I knew Pieter as an excellent sailor, as we often choose open sea together with our two sailing boats, playing some mini regatta and having a drink afterwards. I never could imagine ever to have to look upon a police line around the Quo Vadis. Last time I saw him was two weeks ago: his son Mante was swimming around our boats and afterwards they were playing with a remote controlled model race boat and preparing mussels on a barbecue. Nothing could predict this. As a sailor life jacket and lifeline are part of our routine. The question remains why Pieter got this final and fatal course to a destination he only knows.
Hi Ludo,
thanks so much for your kind words.
We all miss him a lot!!
Mike
May the heavenly host guide you in peace Pieter.
So sorry to have to read this. I cannot imagine who hard it was to write it. Pieter sounds like a very good soul. May the soul Rest in Peace in Heaven with God.
Thanks for your kind words, Shiva!
Mike
Sorry to hear that Mike. It is always sad to hear that someone so young, someone you appreciate passed away. I’m sorry for your loss. I offer my sincere condolences to his family.
Thanks for your kind words, Joel!
Mike
Hi Mike, I found out today and what a shock it was to learn of Pieter’s passing. I had the privilege of speaking to Pieter over the phone back in May 2021 on a project I was working on at the time and was completely captivated by his energy and enthusiasm. Sad and heartbreaking. My sincere -belated- condolences to you and Pieter’s family.
Gordon.
Thank you, Gordon!
Cheers,
Mike