In Memoriam Prof. Vic Bonke

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the death of Professor Vic Bonke, former Rector Magnificus of Maastricht University and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine.

Vic Bonke joined the university in 1975 as lecturer in vegetative physiology, and was one of the first to put the university on the map. In the mid-70s, he and a small group of colleagues taught the first medical students on Tongersestraat. In 1980, he was appointed professor of vegetative physiology.

In 1985 Vic Bonke was appointed Rector Magnificus of Maastricht University. During his tenure (1985-1991), the Netherlands was in economic turmoil and The Hague demanded that the university grow from 2,500 to 6,000 students.

During this period, Vic Bonke was one of the initiators of the advertising campaign 'Kom naar Maastricht' (Come to Maastricht). It was the first time that a Dutch university placed full-page advertisements in national newspapers to recruit students. It was a success: in September 1990, 6,250 students were enrolled and the university had legitimised its existence.

After his period as rector, Vic Bonke served as dean of the Faculty of Medicine (now FHML) from 1997 to 1999. 

We are grateful for Vic's involvement and his valuable contribution to the development of our university. Our sympathy goes to his family.

Photo: Philip Driessen