As our community progresses through the years, we are deeply saddened to learn of
the passing of our friends and colleagues. We remember our associations with
these friends tenderly, and we extend our love and sympathy to their families.
Matthias Jarke
We are deeply saddened by the passing of our friend, colleague, and mentor, Matthias Jarke,
an eminent computer scientist whose visionary contributions have shaped the fields of information systems, data management, and conceptual modeling. His commitment to advancing research, fostering international collaboration, and mentoring young scientists has left an enduring legacy that will continue to inspire future generations.
Professor Jarke held the Chair of Information Systems and Databases at RWTH Aachen from 1991 until his retirement in 2021. Over three decades, he established RWTH Aachen as a global center for research and innovation in information systems. His pioneering research in requirements engineering, meta-modelling, and data spaces laid foundational principles for designing modern software systems, influencing academic and industrial practices worldwide. His contributions in these fields were instrumental in advancing data-sharing frameworks, conceptualizing data spaces, and formalizing complex information systems, bridging the worlds of academia and practical applications. Together with John Mylopoulos, Yannis Vassiliou, and many others, Professor Jarke contributed transformative work in conceptual modeling, data spaces, and requirements engineering, setting new standards in the field and creating frameworks that continue to underpin information systems today.
We fondly remember our dear friend and are grateful for his enduring legacy.
Aditya Ghose
Dr. Aditya Ghose passed away at his home on February 19, 2023. He was a longstanding member
of the conceptual modeling community and contributor to the International Conference on
Conceptual Modeling (the ER conference). Most recently, he served as Program Co-chair of
the 40th edition of the conference (ER 2021, held virtually) and led the coordination of
a special issue of Data & Knowledge Engineering consisting of the best papers from
ER 2021. Prior to this, he served on the Program Committee of the ER conference several
times, just part of a long history of service to the academic community in various roles.
He received a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Alberta, Canada.
He was also a well-known scholar in the area of business process management and produced
many influential articles on this topic (including the Best Paper Award at ER 2017). His
research was funded by the Australian Research Council and the Next Generation Technology
Fund from the Australian Department of Defence.
Ramez Elmasri
Professor Ramez Elmasri passed away on May 14, 2022. He was a wonderful
colleague and friend to many in the conceptual modeling community. Quite a few of us have
used his textbook, Fundamentals of Database Systems (with Sham Navathe), for years.
Ramez was the program chair and helped organize the 1993 ER conference at his university,
The University of Texas at Arlington.
We recall many fruitful discussions and collaborations with him, and we will miss him.
We express heartfelt condolences to his family.
Reind van de Riet
Professor Reind van de Riet passed away
unexpectedly on December 18, 2008.
Professor van de Riet served long and well in many
professional capacities. In the conceptual modeling community,
Reind was a true friend and a collegial associate for
many decades. For the ER conference held in Barcelona in October
2008, he convinced Elsevier to financially support several activities, including
the first Peter Chen Award (which recognizes outstanding contributions to the
ER community through research, mentoring and service), a best paper award, and
an extravagant reception dinner in a restaurant overlooking the Barcelona
Harbor. Academically, Reind made a number of substantial contributions.
He edited the special jubilee issue of Data & Knowledge Engineering,
November 2008, in which he also published a 25-year look at his Mokum system
for correctly designing information systems and how these designs can
be translated into implementations.
As a service to others in the community, Reind was a co-founder and a
long-time Editor for Europe of Data & Knowledge Engineering.
Personally, his smile and friendly demeanor cheered
all of us at the many conferences he attended. Recently, he shared his organ
talents with us, playing an organ concert for the participants of UNISCON in
Villach, Austria. We express our heart-felt condolences to his wife and
other family members. We will miss our dear friend.
Yahiko Kambayashi
Professor Yahiko Kambayashi served long and well
in many
professional capacities. Academically, he achieved much,
receiving many awards and appropriate recognition for his contributions.
We honor him particularly for his service to the ER community.
He was chair of the 17th International Conference on Conceptual Modeling
(ER'98), and was a member of the steering committee for many years.
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