On Wednesday 2 August 2023, FHI received the sad news that Otto Kwak had passed away. Last Friday 4 August, the farewell took place at the Hoeksche Waard crematorium in Heinenoord.
The family and friends showed with beautiful images and powerful speeches how much impact Otto Kwak has had. Professionally he developed from sales engineer to director-owner of KWW-Bèta. He combined his passion for technology with interpersonal qualities and his organizational talents.
He was one of the board members who stood at the cradle of the Federation Het Instrument, or FHI. From 1992 to 1996, Otto Kwak was as chairman explicitly responsible for the start and landing of this young federation. The work of that time can still be recognized in the present time.
The reactions before and during the funeral service were all about Otto's involved, positive, warm and kind personality. I experienced this myself when I presented the first results of the 1990 industry research to the board in 1991. The board members had already had a five-hour meeting and then I was allowed to show a number of sheets about the industry.
Otto came up to me right after this presentation and thanked me profusely. He gave me his card, which at that time was a sign to me that I came across well. He was warm in his contact then and every time after that I experienced the same energy.
FHI honored him as honorary chairman of the federation and we were allowed to fulfill a function to honor Otto as Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau, which he naturally deserved himself. The then director of FHI, Kees Groeneveld, gave a speech at the award ceremony, from which I quote a part.
“Under Kwak's chairmanship, Het Instrument grew from a trade association with 620 affiliated companies in 1992 to a federation of technology sectors with 771 affiliated companies as of January 1, 2006.
During his chairmanship (1992-1996), Kwak represented Het Instrument with great verve in the international organization of industrial automation fairs, World FIMA. From 1997 to 1999, Kwak served as president of this organization.
His involvement can finally be demonstrated with a quote from the minutes of the federation board of his last board meeting for FHI:
“Mr Kwak therefore warmly thanks Mr Hazewinkel and replies that he has enjoyed being a director of the Federation for eight years. His heart lies with The Instrument.”
FHI thanks Otto Kwak for everything he has done for the members and the association.
Paul Petersen
Nederlands