Obituary Dr Helmut Theodor Luthardt

It is with great sadness that we bid farewell to Dr Ing.-Helmut Theodor Luthardt, who passed away on 7 April at the age of 85. As head of the transfer centre at the former Eberswalde University of Applied Sciences for many years, he played a key role in shaping the link between science and practice.

Dr Luthardt was a committed scientist and networker who always promoted dialogue between the university, business and society. Through his work at the Transfer Centre, he promoted the transfer of knowledge to the region and supported sustainable developments.

Born in Sonneberg in 1939, he studied in Dresden after attending school and working as an assistant laboratory technician in technical mycology in Steinach, Thuringia. After working briefly at VEB Holzverarbeitung Camburg/Saale, he worked from 1964 to 1980 as a research and development assistant at the Eberswalde Institute of Wood and Fibre Technology. This was followed until May 1992 by positions at VEB Vereinigte Holzindustrie Neuruppin and as plant manager at VEB Kombinat Schnittholz und Holzwaren in Teschendorf. From 1993 to 2003 he worked at our university, and from 1994 he was head of the transfer centre. He remained committed to the subject of wood beyond his professional career as a member and chairman of the board of the Association of Academic Wood Engineers at the Technical University of Dresden from 2006 to 2012.

In Dr Luthardt, HNEE has lost not only a valued pioneer and colleague, but also a friend and mentor. We will always remember his commitment and his humanity.

Our deepest sympathy goes to his family and all his loved ones.