Tribute To The Demise of Prof. Ir. Houtman P. Siregar, M.Si., PhD
On Satuday September 12, 2015 Prof. Ir. Houtman P. Siregar, M.Si., PhD (53 years), acting head of the Master of Mechanical Engineering concentration of Mechatronics, Swiss German University (SGU), passed away in “RSPAD” hospital due to illness. A ceremony, to pay a tribute expressing grief over the demise of Prof. Ir. Houtman P. Siregar, M.Si., PhD. as the member of the university senate and acting head of Master of Mechanical Engineering, was held on Monday morning from 9:00-10:00 AM led by the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and IT (FEIT), Dr. Ir. Gembong Baskoro, M.Sc. as his superior. During the ceremony, Dr. Ir. Gembong Baskoro, M.Sc. presented the flag of Indonesia, flag of SGU, and the professor gown cap to Prof. Houtman’s eldest son. Prof. Houtman left behind his wife and two sons, one of them is an SGU student
The official release ceremony led by Dean of Faculty of Engineering and IT, Dr. Ir. Gembong Baskoro, M.Sc. as well as presenting remembrance items marking of Prof. Houtman’s achievement
During the release speech of Prof. Houtman to the family for the funeral, the dean of FEIT indicated that Prof. Houtman’s demise is a great loss not only to the study program of the Master of Mechanical Engineering and the Faculty of Engineering and IT but also to all SGU academic fellow. Prof. Houtman was a great scholar that enabled him to be granted by the government the first and only (at least until today) professor of Mechatronics in Indonesia. His tenure in higher education was more than 22 consecutive years. He marked several memorable accomplishments in his career in higher education institution. He earned a bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from North Sumatra University, Master of material science from the University of Indonesia, and a PhD in Mechatronics from the Moscow Power Engineering Institute – Russia. He also followed a short course of “Four Pillars” at Lemhannas RI. During his tenure as scholar he won a “Dosen Berprestasi” awarded by Kopertis 3 as well as by DIKTI.
As I join his bereaved family and other grieving colleagues in wishing Prof. Houtman’s eternal rest, I remember clearly about his vision to blossom the Mechatronics Master Program we have developed together. Why do good people die untimely at a young age when his work is not done yet?. I knew that this question demanded no answers because he left the work and gave us the opportunity to continue. I thought the family should be proud of him and his accomplishment for higher education in this country. We should continue the work he has done…good bye Pak Houtman may your tender soul rest in absolute peace.
