Sad News: Horst Windisch

The Federation of Southern African Gem and Mineralogical Societies have sadly announced the passing of well known micromounter Horst Windisch. Mr.Windisch passed away after illness on August 23.

Horst Windisch was born in Gibeon (South West Africa, now Namibia) on 24th April 1932. Moved to Pretoria with his parents in March 1935, where he has resided ever since. Attended the Deutsche Schule Pretoria and the Technical College in Pretoria during his school years. Started his working career as a millwright apprentice in January 1950 at ISCOR (South African Iron and Steel Works). Worked all his working life at ISCOR in various maintenance departments, culminating as Project Leader for the first commercial COREX plant in the world, before he retired on pension in May 1991.

His outside activities included gem and mineral collecting, hiking, touring and photography. As far as other related activities are concerned, he founded the South African Micromount Society (SAMS) in 1975 and Sand Collectors International (SCI) in 1985. Was up until 2001 the driving force behind SAMS and editor of "Micro News and Views" (the quarterly Newsletter of SAMS) (when due to health problems, had to scale down his activities). However, since 2005, is back again as editor. Was elected into the Micromounters Hall of Fame in Baltimore (USA) in September 1991on which occasion he was also instrumental in the founding of the International Federation of Micromount Societies (IFMS). Here he was elected as President of the IFMS, a position which he still holds today. (He has more than 7 000 mounted micromounts in his collection) As far as sand is concerned, he is editor of the quarterly Newsletter "The Sands of Time". He has close to 6000 sand samples from all over the world in his collection.

Very sad news. I exchanged letters for a while many years with Horst and he was kind enough to invite my wife and me to stay with him in South Africa and do a little collecting and wildlife photography. Sadly, we were never able to go. I don't want to pretend that I knew him well but I certainly respect his contributions to the mineral community. Thanks for passing the unfortunate news.

This is very sad news. I knew Horst very well when I was living in South Africa in the 1980s. He was one of the people who introduced me to micromounting, and we kept in touch long after Ange and I moved back to the UK. His energy and enthusiasm for anything mineralogical and, indeed, a number of other hobbies and pursuits was quite phenomenal, and his kindness and willingness to help others in the hobby was remarkable.

Sincere condolences to his family and to his many, many friends.

Mal

Wonderful person. Always helping. Personal friend. Will be dearly missed. My sincerest condolences to Erika and family.

Bad news, really bad news. Horst was THE micromounter for me, an ideal in so many ways.
When I finished my studies Horst was the person who helped me moving to South Africa and working there for a while.
He was the only one to rely on when I came there, we phoned almost daily and he gave me so many tips in the beginning.
South Africa, that incredible fascinating country lost one of his best collectors!

My sincerest condolence to his family!

Sad news ...

[www.fosagams.co.za]
has an interview with Horst Windisch.

We just received the latest Mineralogical Record magazine and were so sad to read about the passing of Horst. He and his wife Erika made our first few days visiting South Africa very special. My wife and I will never forget the hospitality and generosity shown to us. Please give our condolences to Erika and the family.

David Lowe
California, USA