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	Greetings from Deon Oosthuizen

         	A DECADE WITH DERRICK


	I spent approximately 10 years 
	working together with Derrick 
	Kourie: probably the most en-
	joyable phase of my work life.

	The day I met Derrick, he in-
	vited me into his office, say-
	ing: ‘please come in, and my 
	apologies for the untidy office, 
	but I do not need to impress 
	people any more, because I have 
	“arrived”’.

	I was somewhat taken aback, 
	but soon understood. Derrick 
	has reached a point of content-
	ment and maturity which freed 
	him from the need to impress 
	people with small things. He 
	then went ahead and told me 
	that he would stand back to 
	allow me to teach my field 
	of specialty –- Artificial 
	Intelligence -- while he 
	would study and teach some 
	other subjects. Remarkable 
	indeed!

	This first meeting was a 
	preview to my subsequent 
	experience of working with 
	Derrick -- a trustworthy, 
	supportive colleague; always 
	available to listen and be a 
	sound board, and to advise me 
	when I was faced with difficult 
	issues. It signified the begin-
	ning of a decade of delightful 
	collaboration and hours of in-
	teresting discussion.

	I discovered by accident that 
	Derrick kept my interest at 
	heart. While I was on sabbati-
	cal leave in California I once 
	emailed him telling him about 
	some news about South Africa 
	I saw on TV in America. Those 
	were the early days of email 
	and Derrick edited and forwar-
	ded it to the Computer Science 
	staff email distribution group, 
	not realizing that it would be 
	forwarded to me. So, there I 
	was sitting in California and 
	after a few minutes received 
	my own email back, neatly 
	edited to eliminate politically 
	risky words! This is what a 
	good friend does behind your 
	back: he forwards news giving 
	you the credit but removing 
	potentially harmful aspects.

	Derrick believes in being 
	sincere, but together with 
	that, also in academic equality. 
	Viewing the rector as one among 
	equals, he was unhappy about the 
	existence of a designated parking 
	spot in front of the Education 
	Building –- feeling that the 
	rector was thereby assigned 
	elevated status. And I remember 
	the day he and I had an appoint-
	ment with the rector and Derrick 
	sat in the holy office with his 
	feet crossed on top of his chair, 
	signifying his equal standing!

	It is a privilege to know Derrick.

	
	[via email --- after the deadline
	 --- not in the printed edition.]
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