Martin's Tribute to Amanda 1 October 2015
My name is Martin and I am Amanda’s brother.
We are all shocked at how quickly Amanda was taken away from us. If you look at the photographs of her here in front as well as on the bookmark commemorating Amanda, it is hard to believe that these pictures were taken at her inauguration as the new SAAFoST president nearly 3 weeks ago. You cannot fail to notice the sparkle and joy in Amanda’s eyes in these photographs. I think they are very typical of her general disposition and her immense positivity and kindness. It is very sad that she will not have the opportunity to complete her presidency at SAAFoST. I know that she felt very honoured and privileged to have been appointed to this position and that she had always felt that SAAFoST was central to her career; so this was very close to her heart.
Amanda was very passionate about the world of Food Science and Technology; and the future of this discipline. She had all the correct ingredients to get her to this point: charm, superb intellect, super strong sense of ethics, respect for everything (not only people), empathy and focus. One wonders what more she would have achieved had she not been taken away so soon. I know during her presidency, amongst other things, she wanted to help young professionals to have a real voice, and she wanted to get a balanced view of food science to the public highlighting the issues between food scientists and nutritionists.
Amanda’s close friend and colleague, Riette, sent me some thoughts on Amanda’s achievements as well as on Amanda the person, and I want to read it to you.
Prof Amanda Minnaar by Riette de Kock
Amanda’s students described her as an experienced and extremely knowledgeable lecturer, a respected mentor and study leader who was very passionate about Food Science. She was always friendly and consistent, but she challenged students and expected high standards.
Amanda took a personal interest in the wellbeing of students and followed their career paths long after they left the university, a ‘caring mother’ and ‘the one that defended students during research progress presentations’.
Amanda, a National Research Foundation rated scientist, supervised no less than 44 masters and doctoral students to their degrees. She was particularly passionate about the research of her students and counted that as part of her most significant achievements.
Amanda worked at the University of Pretoria since 1986 and was Head of the Dept of Food Science for 10 years. She served in numerous University committees and held various leadership positions.
She was a dear friend, confidant, consultant, research collaborator, leader and manager to all her colleagues. The soul of and a leading light in the Department of Food Science. She was also a loyal and highly professional member of the University staff who walked many extra miles, always willing to contribute time and energy to different activities.
Internationally, she was a respected scientist, author or co-author of a long list of scientific papers in international research journals, research chapters in books and contributor to many conferences and events. Her research work focused on the use of modern food processing technologies to improve the quality (nutritional, phytochemical, physicochemical and sensory), safety and shelf life of foods. Her specific areas of research expertise included thermal processing, ionising irradiation, sensory analysis, combination processing and fruit, vegetables and legume processing science and technology.
Amanda established a valuable research collaboration network as a result of her active involvement as a committee member in various national and international research programmes [e.g. US Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Dry Grain Pulse Collaborative Research Support Programs, Africa-Australia Universities Network (AAUN) the International Atomic Energy Agency and the European Union research programme]
In 2011 she was recognised by the European-South African Science and Technology Advancement Programme (ESASTAP) for her contributions to Capacity Development.
For the South African food industry, as President and regional chairman of the South African Association for Food Science & Technology (SAAFoST) her lifelong commitment to her profession was self-evident.
Amanda touched all our lives and we are richer because we had the privilege to know and work with a unique and loving person.
As a child she already had all the qualities that made her such a remarkable person; and she never changed; because this is how she was raised by her equally remarkable parents, James and Elma.
Even up to a week before Amanda passed away she was still working. This after having had 6 cycles of chemo, 2 cycles of radiation and multiple other treatments since her diagnosis with cancer two and a half years ago. Many of you know that what started as breast cancer, soon evolved to include bone, liver and eventually brain cancer as well. It was a particularly aggressive cancer. Even through this, she always remained positive, never complaining, giving up or losing focus; always with immense dignity. Of all the direct aspects of the disease that worried her, potentially having her brain affected was the most concerning. Francois told me that the doctors told her a couple of days before she passed away that her brain cancer had not progressed at all – and he said he could see she was visibly relieved.
And of course Amanda was the one consoling everyone else. Even on the day she passed away, Francois said he was distraught, yet she kept saying: “Toemaar dis OK”. This was the very essence of Amanda: totally selfless compassion and empathy, spectacular tenacity and immense intellect.
I don’t know how many people know this, but Amanda was also a very talented musician. As a child she did piano up to grade 8 I think, which is spectacular in its own right, but she really loved classical guitar. Amanda loved music and she always surrounded herself with music. Music and books, to be precise. For one of her birthdays, Francois organised a specially made guitar by well-known luthier where she selected the wood for the guitar herself, based on her personality, and it is an instrument that she adored. Francois and Amanda embarked on many adventures: wind surfing, biking, traveling off the beaten path, picking up and caring for stray animals to mention a few. They lived a full and pretty action-packed life.
To Rachélle, Liam, Kathleen and Sean: Rachélle, you and Amanda are the best sisters anyone could ever ask for. You know she dearly loved you, Liam, and of course Kathleen and Sean who changed her, overnight, into a doting aunt immediately after they were born. Amanda was always the voice of reason when we needed advice, and she never judged. Instead, she was always supportive and helpful, but also direct in how she felt about things.
Francois se ouers: Yvonne en Marius. Dankie dat julle Amanda gesien het as julle eie dogter. Ek weet sy was baie lief vir julle. Sy was ‘n inherente deel van julle lewens vir meer as 3 dekades; en die verlies maak onbeskryflik seer, maar met tyd sal dit verbeter.
Aan my ouers: James en Elma. Amanda, soos ek en Rachélle, kon nie vir beter ouers vra nie. Kyk net hoeveel mense is hier vandag wat hulde aan Amanda wil betoon and wat ‘n verskil sy in soveel mense se lewens gemaak het, en alles wat sy bereik het. Die boodskappe wat mense stuur is beide hartseer en opbouend op dieselfde tyd. Sy was uitsonderlik omdat dit is hoe julle haar grootgemaak het.
Francois julle was saam vir 35 jaar. Ek kan myself nie eers indink hoe ‘n moeilike tyd jy moet deurgaan nie, en hoe moeilik die afgelope twee en ‘n half jaar vir julle albei was nie. Jy weet hoe lief sy vir jou was en ek weet jy was die liefde van haar lewe; en ek weet jy voel dieselfde. Sy sal altyd in jou hart wees, en sal altyd daar wees om jou te troos, net soos jy haar onthou.
We lost an incredible person too early, whose true potential will never be fully realised. We are all thankful and honoured to have known Amanda, and she touched all of our lives with her charm, caring nature and intelligent wit. Amanda’s passing leaves a void in many lives, and we are all better people for having had her in our lives. Thank you.