On March 29, 2024, FHI received the sad news that Ronald ten Boden passed away on March 28. He worked for FHI for ten years (2012-2022) and during that time was active as a branch manager for the Industrial Automation branch.
In 2012, Ronald applied to FHI to take on the work for PI Netherlands and PI Belgium. His enthusiasm was already evident then. Every colleague who spoke to him told him with the same passion about the nibble fish in an aquarium, with which he attended trade fairs. These creatures eat pieces of dander and dead skin cells from your feet, which is something that visitors to the fairs where he stood were happy to experience.
That told something about Ronald ten Boden. A creative person who liked to help others and do something special. These qualities also benefited FHI. Ronald was always optimistic and he always saw opportunities. In the first years he helped the Profibus organizations in the Netherlands and Belgium, but soon he also supported trade fairs and various activities. He donated the energy that Ronald naturally had to the activities for the Industrial Automation sector.
When he became sector manager in 2017, he once again sought enthusiasm and creativity by, for example, starting the Industrial Cyber Security Event. The people who attended that event saw him take great advantage of the interaction with speakers, exhibitors and visitors, so that everyone could feel the energy of the day and the importance of the subject. Ronald did this with all activities in the industry.
He allowed colleagues to grow in their qualities and gave the team confidence to take on the activities completely under their own supervision. Ronald quickly switched to using innovative tools (for example for webinars) and he supported other associations to have their AGM take place with us. He looked for all kinds of innovations in the corona years and managed to put together great programs with strong speakers.
In 2022, Ronald no longer worked at FHI, but through the close contact we still had with each other, we heard about his incurable disease. He took up that illness with the character described above. He knew the percentage of survivors was small, but he did everything he could to be part of it.
Last year Ronald visited our office for a while. He then gave a message to those present (through his own current experiences), which came across clearly and powerfully: 'Enjoy every day, don't judge (you don't know what happens behind someone's front door) and be kind.'
In April 2020, he had already written a column for a trade magazine, which he titled 'Take good care of your fellow man and yourself'.
We are very grateful to Ronald for the many wonderful things he has taught us.
On behalf of boards and former colleagues of FHI, federation of technology industries
Paul Petersen, director
Nederlands