In Memoriam: Heny Lem (1938-2021)

© henk vosmeijer

Henny worked for SRZM/NFRA/ASTRON from October 1974 to June 1999. She wrote software for the instruments on the 25m Dwingeloo Radio Telescope, initially with Hans Leenaarts and Cees Slottje for the solar observations, and later with Rob Millenaar and Albert Bos for the digital backends. Towards the end of her career she developed an interest in System Management.

Henny was different. She was the first woman in a technical job at ASTRON, and for most of her time the only one. She also drove a snazzy little 2-seater sportscar, and occasionally a white Mercedes. She enthousiastically participated in social activities like the provincial tennis competition. With great respect I remember how she insisted on continuing an important match against Beilen after a painful collision with a clumsy doubles partner (me). We won.

She eventually married our very own Titus Spoelstra, and they lived happily in an idyllic house in the woods near Diever. For more information, and a charming picture of the couple, please refer to two earlier Daily Images of 2008 and 2010.