My boss died...

[Tormod]

If I've been a bit rough with some people this week I apologise. My boss died of cancer the day before New Year's Eve, only 4 months after being diagnosed with cancer.

This week has been extremely busy and of course sad. I work at the Norwegian Space Centre and we are only about 20 people, and my boss was 65 years old and not far from retirement.

Today all of us went to his funeral and then to a family reception to show our last respects, and it feels good to have a sense of closure to it. It was a Christian funeral which many of you will know I am not very comfortable with (not the church visit per se, but the fact that the entire setting was very religious while I know my boss was not a religious man - I find it all very strange but it is his familyæs choice and I respect that). But still I had a good time, if that term applies, it feels good to share the memories of a great person with colleages.

I really, really miss my boss. He was a wonderful man and a great inspiration for me. He has taught me a lot of things about science communication and how to make things accessible. He often expressed that he was impressed with Hypography and he always showed a great respect for both me and everyone else at work. For the entire 4 months since he was hospitalized I've passed his empty office every day and felt this immense sadness. It kind of wears you out after a while. The last time I saw him he had lost his hair to the radiation treatment and looked very, very sick. Iin the end what killed him was not really the cancer but an infection which his body could not handle since chemotherapy had ruined his immune system.

I feel empty inside and I need some time to let it sink in that he's really gone...and also to spend some time with my wife and daughters to get my spirit back up.

Sorry for offloading this on you folks...I just felt like sharing this bit of personal sadness.

[infamous]

Tormod; Please don't feel sorry for sharing this tragic event with your friends here at Hypography. I havn't known you very long, but I have grown to admire your mental clarity and the fair approach you take day in, and day out on this forum. You have my deepest simpathy, I know what it's like to lose someone that you dearly love. Sincere and deepest wishes, infamous.

[Aquagem]

Originally Posted by Tormod

If I've been a bit rough with some people this week I apologise. My boss died of cancer the day before New Year's Eve, only 4 months after being diagnosed with cancer.

Sorry for offloading this on you folks...I just felt like sharing this bit of personal sadness.

Thanks for letting everyone in on it. Your boss sounds like he was an asset to the human race, and your eulogy is an honor to his humanity.