The FIFe Board was shocked to hear that Mr. Leo van de Haterd from the Netherlands, died suddenly and quickly of a severe cardiac arrest, on Monday the 9th of June at the age of 79 years in his second home-country, Colombia.
Before moving his membership to Mundikat, Leo was a long-year Felikat member and Treasurer. For FIFe, Leo was active as assistant controller and controller in the 90-ies and at the 1997 General Assembly in Tampere (FI) he was elected FIFe Treasurer, a position he held until May 2024. He held this position for 27 years; the longest period any FIFe Board member held a function. In gratitude of his dedication to FIFe, Leo received the FIFe Medal of Merit at the 2024 General Assembly.
Leo and his first wife, Attie, registered their cattery name “van de Risdammer” in 1978 and bred and showed Persian colourpoints in diluted colours.
Leo and his second wife Rosa divided their time between the Netherlands and their house in Dorada, Colombia, a country were Leo wished to settle permanently and where he is now also buried.
Leo had, as they say in Holland “his heart on this tongue;” some appreciated that and others did not. Leo enjoyed the good things of life and will be sorely missed.
The Board of FIFe extends its sincere condolences to Rosa, their three children and grandchild and the rest of the family and friends in the Netherlands and Colombia.
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