It is with great sadness that we are letting you know that Dr. Gerd Müller-Brockhausen, long standing treasurer and valued member of the German Friends of LSE died on Tuesday, 9 June. While riding his bike, Gerd was hit by a car last Saturday, 6 June and subsequently died from his injuries.
Gerd graduated from the LSE with a Master of Science in Econometrics & Mathematical Economics in 1981 and obtained his PhD in Economics from the University of Bonn. After completing his studies in 1987, Gerd joined the German private bank Sal. Oppenheim, where he worked his entire professional career in leading roles in the COO department.
At the 100th anniversary celebrations of the LSE in 1995 Gerd together with a small group of alumni took the initiative to revive the German Friends of LSE. In 1996 Gerd was elected treasurer for the first time. Since then Gerd played a key role in shaping and building our association which grew since his election from 20 to over 450 paying members including alumni and friends of LSE. Today our association has a regular outreach to more than 4000 LSE alumni based in Germany.
Gerd gave long-term and outstanding commitment to the LSE Alumni Association, he served as the treasurer of the German Friends of LSE for almost 25 years. As a board member, Gerd was not only responsible for all financial aspects of the German Friends of LSE but also for the management of our members. He was the first point of contact for LSE students and recent graduates who joined our association and would accompany a member over its association’s lifetime. He also enjoyed being the overall coordinator of the regional German Destination LSE events.
In the days before social media, Gerd, also responsible for members’ communication, regularly involved his wife and children in helping him pack, label and post several hundred copies of the printed membership directory and 6-monthly member newsletter. We suspect not only the postman was relieved when the leadership team of our association decided to discontinue the printed membership directory in 2015…
Gerd was always a doer, not only developing important concepts but also implementing them. Skilled in the application and use of technology, Gerd drove the digitalization of the German Friends of LSE. He set up our first website and an online members’ database, when this was at the forefront of innovation for German charitable associations. In the last weeks before his death, he was working with fellow board members on a revamp of the association’s website.
Gerd was not only an active member of the German Friends of LSE, but also of the cycling club ADFC, the local choir and the tennis club.
Gerd is survived by his wife Marina, three adult children and two grandchildren.
We are immensely grateful for Gerd’s commitment and drive, and for his leadership in making our association a vibrant and welcoming place for all friends of the LSE. Gerd was the heart and soul of our association, always available when somebody needed support and happy to give advice.
We shall miss Gerd – his calm and balanced character, his sense of humour and his selfless support. We will always cherish his memory as a longstanding member of the board of the German Friends of LSE and as the inspiring person he was.
Pia Wagner, President,for the Board of the German Friends of LSE