I have just heard this very sad news. We knew Dirk about 20 years ago at our home in Lac Beauport (Province of Quebec), when all his family was spending their vacations there. We had a great time with him, his sweet wife Sabine and his two sons Hendrik and Garrit. Afterwards, we shared some great family moments in Moody Beach, Chelmsford or Tanglewood; my two daughters, Rosalie and Stéphanie, as well as Éric also have great memories.

Dirk was a very warm person, with a great sense of humor and a great intelligence. I offer to Sabine, Hendrik and Garrit, with all my friendship, my most sincere condolences.  

Caroline

To Dirk's family, condolences for the loss.  

I had only a passing acquaintance with Dirk, via the CoSP, but he did seem to burn more brightly than most!  

Dirk was Part of the family of my Stepdad.

We only met once, yet he left quite the impression.

He was open, warm and well spoken.

As the idea grew on me, that I wanted to stay in the US and experience life there, Dirk was eager to answer my questions and help mature my plan. 

But not just that, he gave me insight into his life and career… all that without looking down on my inexperienced and sometimes naive self.

Dirk managed to be there for someone he barely knew and invest time and knowledge, without wanting anything in return.

His passing really struck me, even though we haven’t talked since. I now regret that I haven’t taken the time to reach out and show him the positive impact he had on my life.

He contributes to the life’s of the people he met, even after passing and that’s remarkable!

Thank you

I'm so very sorry to hear of Dirk's passing. I only met him once, at an Andy Irvine workshop in Connecticut that must have been close on twenty years ago, but I remember how very kind and considerate he was. As I recall, my tape recorder wasn't working, so he sent me a CD of the workshop and some very helpful notes. I wish I'd had the opportunity to know him better. May he rest in peace.

Fair winds and following seas, Dirk. My condolences to all your friends and family.

 "Liebe Sabine, Gerrit, Hendrik und Sidney !

Wir möchten euch unser herzliches Beileid aussprechen. Wenn auch inzwischen schon einige Tage seit Dirks Tod vergangen sind, so werden eure Herzen noch voller Trauer sein. Ihr habt Dirks Kampf gegen die heimtückische Krankheit bis zum bitteren Ende miterlebt und durchlitten. Nun werdet ihr ohne seine starke Persönlichkeit auskommen müssen. Wir sind sicher: Er hat euch geliebt, wie ihr ihn auch geliebt habt.

Wenn wir an Dirk denken, sehen wir ihn als vielseitig begabten, hochintelligenten, interessierten, zielstrebigen, fürsorglichen und auch sensiblen Menschen.

Eine bemerkenswerte Eigenschaft war zweifellos sein Kampfgeist. Dazu erinnert sich Bernd, ein gebürtiger Franke, an Dirks Verbundenheit als alter Sachse zu dem von ihm verehrten Sachsenherzog Widukind. Dieser lebte vor ca. 1200 Jahren. Er musste sich mit seinem Volk, das zu dieser Zeit in großen Teilen des heutigen Niedersachsen und Westfalen sesshaft war, gegen die Eroberungszüge der Franken unter ihrem Herrscher „Karl dem Großen“ wehren. In den sog. Sachsenkriegen wurde Widukinds Volk trotz tapferer Gegenwehr letztendlich durch die Franken unterworfen und christianisiert.

Dirk suchte bei Deutschlandaufenthalten gelegentlich Stationen dieser Schlachten auf, so z.B. das sog. „Blutbachtal“ im Süntel bei Hameln. Hier sollen so viele Franken in der Schlacht gefallen sein, dass sich der dort fließende Bach rot färbte. Dieses Gemetzel bot natürlich Gesprächsstoff zwischen Dirk (Sachse) und Bernd (Franke).

Auch Kultstätten der Sachsen, wie z.B. den „Grünen Altar“ und den Hohenstein im Süntel, hat Dirk gelegentlich aufgesucht. Sogar der vermuteten Grabstätte des Sachsenherzogs Widukind, dem Altar der Kirchen in Enger (bei Herford), hat er einen Besuch abgestattet. Dort hat Dirk aus Verehrung dieser Persönlichkeit einen Blumenstrauß niedergelegt.

Wenn wir nun Abschied nehmen müssen von ihm, so tun wir das in dem Wissen, dass er von seinem Leiden erlöst wurde.

Möge seine Seele Ruhe finden in dem Element Wasser, das er auch sehr geliebt hat.

Wir wünschen euch, die ihr nun traurig zurückbleibt, viel Kraft und Zuversicht für die kommende Zeit.

In Gedanken sind wir bei euch und hoffen auf ein Wiedersehen in nicht zu ferner Zukunft.

Alles Liebe,

eure Gabi, Bernd, Heike, Jens und Familie Read less"

Shared on March 29, 2022, 8:04 a.m. PDT

I am very sad hearing Dirk passing away earlier this month. Having known Dirk for more than 40 years, there are still many pictures in my head.

Memories range from meeting the first time in the stadium of Hanover after a 100m race, spending hours in joint training sessions, and Track and Field competitions, visiting each other in London, the Black Forest, Amherst, Pittsburgh, Chelmsford, Bainbridge and Madison. There were discussions on Information Technology trends, arguments about politics and society, agreeing and disagreeing at various Zoom and Skype meetings and then hearing about the cancer and seeing how he dealt with it in the “Dirk way”. Visiting Dirk in Eliot, Maine in his last days, the gift to share memories with him and saying Good Bye. I have lost a very good friend.

My condolences, sympathy and best wishes to Sabine, Henrik and Gerrit.

I offer my most heartfelt condonlences on the passing of Dirk.  This comes as a huge shock.  How can such a vibrant and fit man be gone at such a young age?  This is a question for the universe.  I met Dirk in Aikido at Northeast Aikikai.  He was a determined practicioner.  When that dojo closed, he followed with me to Mill City Aikido located in Westford, MA.  Dirk offered to be an instructor of the Friday evening class.  I am reading some rave reviews from the students that took his class.  His essence filled a room.  He was a very special man.

Kathy Fitzgibbon Sensei

Kerstin and I are so very sorry for your family's loss. It's hard to comprehend that Dirk is gone; Dirk, who always had been so full of life, insights, stories, and observations.

I still remember us young, ready-to-show-the-world hounds at A.T. Kearney in Düsseldorf during the early 90s. Three or four other associates and we shared a room and three desks . 

We met when not assigned to a project or on the Friday-in-the-office. I still see Dirk stepping into the room – all smiles, personality larger than life – ready to tell a story, pulling some of us out of our consulting-inflicted rut.

Over the years, we kept loosely in touch. Dirk and I ran into each other at Kearney in Chicago. I had the chance to visit you in the Boston area, and we stopped by on Bainbridge Island, and some of you saw us in Bremen. So very glad you did, we did.

We are deeply saddened.

We are remembering the depth and breadth of Dirk’s knowledge and how much we enjoyed our discussions with him. Dirk always balanced frankness and care, and his kindness matched his talents and intellect. We recall Dirk offering his car to us when he was on a family vacation and our car was being repaired, as being just one of his generous gestures.

We are so sorry for your great loss Sabine, Hendrick, and Gerrit.

Cher ami je n’oublierai jamais ces moments passés avec toi et ta magnifique famille, au Lac Beauport et au Massassuchets. Tu es un homme exceptionnel et puisses-tu reposer en paix. Mes pensées t’accompagnent dans cette transition vers, je le souhaite, de meilleurs cieux. 

Ton ami Eric