I came to Potchefstroom "out of the blue" in 1997, in search of an academic home to do my PhD. My partner Robert had left Germany to start his PhD at Wits University in 1996. After a meeting with Este in the lovely former little office next to the car park, she offered that I could take part in the THUSA study. Equipped with a confirmation letter signed by her I went back home to Germany, quit my job, and was in Potch a few months later. This has set me on a journey that changed my life.
I have many fond memories of Este. She visited me for the first time in Bavaria, Germany in 2001 for my PhD defense, where she was co-supervisor (for formal reasons my first supervisor was in Germany). While she was able to combine this visit with some other important board meetings, in Rome or elsewhere, she made this huge effort and detour, despite her busy schedule. This meant a lot to me at the time, and also in hindsight, knowing how busy life can get. During the defense, which was rather stiff and formal, she encouragingly smiled at me the whole time, as if saying 'all will go well'. She stayed with us at my parents' house. When she had her first Weissbier (a traditional Bavarian beer that tastes not as bitter as a Lager), sitting barefoot at our dining table, she said this is so delicious and enjoyable that it kicks her off her feet (as most of you will know she did not really like beer). We also went for hikes in the mountains. She was amazed by the diversity of mountain flowers and could not say this often enough. During this visit she talked a lot about Ig and how much she would love him to come, too. Which they did, a few years later. They stayed at a farm B&B close by, in the midst of green pastures, with a view to the mountains. It was touching to see how Este enjoyed being here with Ig, and how she could relate to his joy to visit the "Germany of his childhood dreams" (Ig spoke German very well, which he had learned with his German teacher Herr Hesse). We undertook hikes in the mountains, visited monasteries and beer gardens, and had wonderful get-togethers with the rest of my family. In Potch, Este and Ig hosted me on numerous occasions and for extended periods of time in their garden flat. This helped me a lot, especially as I was waiting for research funds to come through - I was very grateful for this support. Much later, when I was not engaged so much anymore in research in the North West Province, I still regularly visited Potch, and it was a priority for me to see Este and Ig, they always made time in their busy schedules. Este was always interested in what happened in your personal and professional life. It was wonderful for me that the personal relationship endured, and I am grateful for the precious moments we shared. Este was a wonderful person and an inspiring and supportive mentor. Despite my research focus being quite different at the time I started as part of the THUSA team, she respected what I did and allowed me to find my niche. Baie dankie vir alles, I will not forget you Este. Liefde Stefanie
I came to Potchefstroom "out of the blue" in 1997, in search of an academic home to do my PhD. My partner Robert had left Germany to start his PhD at Wits University in 1996. After a meeting with Este in the lovely former little office next to the car park, she offered that I could take part in the THUSA study. Equipped with a confirmation letter signed by her I went back home to Germany, quit my job, and was in Potch a few months later. This has set me on a journey that changed my life.
I have many fond memories of Este. She visited me for the first time in Bavaria, Germany in 2001 for my PhD defense, where she was co-supervisor (for formal reasons my first supervisor was in Germany). While she was able to combine this visit with some other important board meetings, in Rome or elsewhere, she made this huge effort and detour, despite her busy schedule. This meant a lot to me at the time, and also in hindsight, knowing how busy life can get. During the defense, which was rather stiff and formal, she encouragingly smiled at me the whole time, as if saying 'all will go well'. She stayed with us at my parents' house. When she had her first Weissbier (a traditional Bavarian beer that tastes not as bitter as a Lager), sitting barefoot at our dining table, she said this is so delicious and enjoyable that it kicks her off her feet (as most of you will know she did not really like beer). We also went for hikes in the mountains. She was amazed by the diversity of mountain flowers and could not say this often enough. During this visit she talked a lot about Ig and how much she would love him to come, too. Which they did, a few years later. They stayed at a farm B&B close by, in the midst of green pastures, with a view to the mountains. It was touching to see how Este enjoyed being here with Ig, and how she could relate to his joy to visit the "Germany of his childhood dreams" (Ig spoke German very well, which he had learned with his German teacher Herr Hesse). We undertook hikes in the mountains, visited monasteries and beer gardens, and had wonderful get-togethers with the rest of my family. In Potch, Este and Ig hosted me on numerous occasions and for extended periods of time in their garden flat. This helped me a lot, especially as I was waiting for research funds to come through - I was very grateful for this support. Much later, when I was not engaged so much anymore in research in the North West Province, I still regularly visited Potch, and it was a priority for me to see Este and Ig, they always made time in their busy schedules. Este was always interested in what happened in your personal and professional life. It was wonderful for me that the personal relationship endured, and I am grateful for the precious moments we shared. Este was a wonderful person and an inspiring and supportive mentor. Despite my research focus being quite different at the time I started as part of the THUSA team, she respected what I did and allowed me to find my niche. Baie dankie vir alles, I will not forget you Este. Liefde Stefanie
