For many years Jan was one of the most remarkable professors within the department. Even after his retirement, in 2007, he remained scientifically actively involved in the department and was a highly valued member of the CASA cluster. He was an inspiration to both students and colleagues, not only because of his extensive knowledge of multiple disciplines, both within and outside mathematics, but also because of his stimulating scientific curiosity. He combined this with a unique way of performing, in which his humor played a major role. With his warm-hearted and social character, he managed to win many people over. We will miss him.

For anyone who would like to express their sympathy to Jan’s family please bring turn to HR Services, Metaforum 3.074 as they will collect your wishes and send it to his family.

If you should feel the need for support we invite you to HR Advice, Metaforum 3.077.

With heartfelt condolences,

Prof. dr. E.R. van den Heuvel, Dean of Mathematics & Computer Science

Jan de Graaf was a mathematician, a researcher, and a swimmer. But at Compass we remember him as one of the first openly gay professors at the Mathematics and Computer Science department and a pioneer in the gay liberation movement. Already in the late 1970s, he was active in the so-called TH-homogroep, a group that aimed at making homosexuality more discussable in the university community. And while this group disappeared after five years, ten years later ‘1 op tien’ arose as a successor and now today we have Compass. Jan was active in the ‘Roze Driehoek’ (Pink Triangle) and COC, and he was one of the godfathers of the study of the LGBTIQ+ community in Eindhoven by Luc Brants (Tussen Repressie en Provocatie 1948-1990). Our thoughts and deepest sympathy go to Frans Martens, Jan’s husband and a former colleague of many of us.

Compass