We are deeply saddened to report that Friedrich Otto-Lübker has passed away.
After a long illness, our colleague Friedrich Otto-Lübker, held in high esteem globally, has passed away at the age of just 64.
A pioneer and a gentleman – a fine man, straightforward and a visionary.
Friedrich Otto-Lübker has passed away
Friedrich was a pioneer and a gentleman - a fine man, straightforward and a visionary. His ideas and inventive spirit had a huge influence on Big Dutchman. A few days ago you celebrated 30 years with the company and we would have loved to congratulate you personally, but unfortunately you were too weak.
You were more than a colleague - you were a brand. "F.O.L." was what we called you, with both affection and respect. Colleagues from all over the world have contacted us to express their sorrow.
We are grateful for your characteristic North German sense of humour, your profound knowledge and your wealth of ideas. You shared all this with us. We also appreciated your occasional stubbornness when it came to focussing on the matter at hand. And somehow you were always right.
You were a humane superior and colleague. Someone who was respected by all. When you asked someone to use the informal 'Du' form of address, it was like being knighted. You were a close friend of our boss, Bernd Meerpohl, even though you both always used the formal 'Sie' form of address. This was simply a sign of mutual respect.