On Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008, the SharePoint community lost one of our leading and most passionate figures. Patrick Tisseghem, SharePoint MVP, co-founder of U2U, author and speaker of worldwide renown, and a devoted husband and father, passed away suddenly due to heart failure while doing what he loved best - teaching newcomers about SharePoint. We are deeply saddened by the loss of Patrick, not only for personal reasons, but also as an influential member of the SharePoint community.
Patrick was a special kind of person, the kind that always had a ready smile no matter how far he had travelled to talk to a group in some far-flung country or how many hours he had toiled on a presentation to get it just right. Over a pint he would willingly share his knowledge and experiences with all who would listen, never afraid to give too much, and always as eager to listen as he was to talk. He could delight an audience with stories from years of making the conference rounds in places most of us never new SharePoint existed, never taking himself too seriously, always ready to laugh, and to learn, and to share.
For those inside the closely-knit circle of SharePoint MVP's this will come as an especially harsh blow. Everyone in the group knew Patrick and I think it's safe to say that he was universally liked and respected by all his peers. You could always count on Patrick to be there, no matter how far he had to travel, or how big (or small) the audience. He epitomized what it means to be an MVP, putting his heart and soul into the community, and always encouraging others to do their best, usually with actions instead of words. He was a talented speaker and presenter, often drawing big crowds wherever he went, but he was also humble and sincere. Patrick never pulled any punches but he didn't throw many, either - he always knew just what to say and when to say it. Nothing speaks more to the character of a person than knowing when to talk and when to keep silent - and Patrick was certainly a man of great character. On a personal level, I believe I can speak for a great many MVP's when I say that we have lost a very dear friend and colleague. The group, and the greater SharePoint community, will never be the same without him.
Patrick leaves behind a wife and two beautiful young daughters. As much as we will all miss him, there are no words that can express the devastating loss to his family. Our hearts go out to them in their time of mourning and we can only hope that our prayers and sincere best wishes will help carry them through.
At present, there are no plans for a memorial fund or other source of contributions, so if you would like to help in some small way or express your feelings, please send any thoughts, including anecdotes, stories, or other remembrances of Patrick's life, to familyofpatrick@u2u.be.
Goodbye, Patrick. We're sure going to miss you.