We bid farewell to Karola Schmelzer
It is with great sadness that we bid farewell to our long-time colleague, companion and friend Karola Schmelzer, whose death deeply saddens us. She died on November 27, 2024 after a serious illness.
Karola Schmelzer
(Image: ITT)
As the heart and soul of the Institute of Technology and Resources Management in the Tropics and Subtropics (ITT) and later the Faculty of Spatial Development and Infrastructure Systems, Karola played a key role in shaping the institute and its successful development over 33 years. Both at the Institute and at the Faculty, she fulfilled her role as senior secretary with great professionalism and loyalty. Her pronounced sensitivity and her caring and respectful manner made her a balancing, integrative force.
Karola Schmelzer was also known and loved beyond the ITT and the faculty for her warm and humorous character. Her commitment to an open and welcoming atmosphere and her efforts to inspire staff with the Cologne way of life and carnival will remain unforgotten. She was a colleague we could rely on not only professionally, but also as a person. She was full of energy, smart, funny, dedicated, good-natured and popular.
The last year was overshadowed by her illness, but also full of hope, which motivated her to keep coming by and checking on things. We hoped for her until the end and are deeply saddened that she had to go far too soon.
We will miss Karola, but we are grateful for the years we shared with her. She will always remain in our hearts.
On behalf of the Faculty of Spatial Development and Infrastructure Systems
Prof. Dr. Lars Ribbe, Dean