With great sadness, we say goodbye to our dear colleague, Professor Bennie ten Haken. Bennie died at the age of 62. He left a lasting impression at the University of Twente and far beyond.
As a physicist, Bennie began his scientific career in low-temperature superconductors. After an inspiring sabbatical at the University of Berkeley, he established his research group focused on magnetism in the broadest sense, and in particular on its effects on the human body. With this focus, Bennie was far ahead of his time. He laid the foundation for what has since grown into a vibrant and promising field of research: magnetic particle imaging, a technology on its way to becoming part of an entirely new generation of medical imaging devices. His pioneering role in this field is of lasting value.
Bennie was one of the founding figures behind the Technical Medicine program and contributed to its growth and development with pride and dedication. His enthusiasm for the field was contagious and inspired countless colleagues and students. Bennie embraced variety and was both creative and original in his thinking. Generations of students have grown up with the lab sessions he designed for teaching ultrasound and MRI. He was a strong advocate for Technical Medicine and was always willing to visit internship sites to support a student, often proudly sharing in their achievements.
What made Bennie special was his warm personality. He was genuinely caring, always approachable, and had a keen eye for those around him. He gladly made time for students to guide them, listen, or just to think along with them.
We will deeply miss Bennie as a colleague, mentor, source of inspiration, and friend. Our thoughts are with Bennie's family. We wish his close colleagues much strength in this difficult time. On behalf of the entire University of Twente, the Faculty Board of Science and Technology and the Management team of the TechMed Centre.
