In Remembrance - Erik Bais

We are deeply saddened by the passing of one of the pillars of the RIPE community, Erik Bais, on Tuesday, 28 May 2024. Erik was a RIPE NCC member, the Address Policy Working Group Chair, and, above all, a friend to RIPE NCC staff and the RIPE community. 

Erik first got involved in the RIPE community in 2002, and he served as the Chair of the Address Policy Working Group from 2018 onwards. He contributed to and authored several important RIPE policies. Never afraid to voice his thoughts, Erik has been a powerful presence in the RIPE community, and he has provided considerable guidance to the RIPE NCC over the years. 

A regular at RIPE Meetings, Erik was incredibly generous with his time, mentoring many community members, both formally through RIPE programmes and via the friendships and relationships he built through his wisdom and humour. The mental health of people in the community was of particular concern to him, and we saw this clearly with the advocacy work he carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic. His participation helped shape the RIPE community as we know it today.

We will miss his energy, his clarity of thought and above all his warm friendship. 

Condolence and Farewell Notice

We are deeply saddened by the passing of one of the pillars of the RIPE community, Erik Bais, on Tuesday, 28 May 2024. Erik was a RIPE NCC member, the Address Policy Working Group Chair, and above all, a dear friend to RIPE NCC staff and the RIPE community. Erik’s willingness to help others in any and all situations will be profoundly missed.

Erik was 51 years old and passed away due to natural causes. He is survived by the love of his life Wilhelmina and his amazing sons Lars and Niels.

A condolence and farewell service will be held in Purmerend on Tuesday, 4 June 2024 19:30 - 21:30 CEST. Anyone whose life was touched by Erik in any way is welcome to pay their respects.

The service will be held at:

Uitvaartcentrum Purmerend
Purmerweg 94
1441 RC Purmerend
The Netherlands

For those who cannot make the journey there is an online condolence register.

Erik will be cremated in a private ceremony which can be followed online on 5 June 2024 at 13:00 CEST.

Because Erik cared deeply about the mental health of the people and community around him, his family has requested that instead of sending flowers, those who wish to should make a donation in Erik's name to the Dutch Suicide Prevention Fund:

Account name: 113 Fonds Zelfmoordpreventie
IBAN: NL 54 RABO 0160 6244 87 / BIC: RABONL2U
Reference: Erik Bais