Berkhoff, prof. dr. Gerrit

Prof.dr. Gerrit Berkhoff, the first Rector Magnificus of the THT, as the University of Twente was named in the early years. Berkhoff died in 1996, on tuesday February 27, aged 94. He was one of the founders of the THT. He was professor in General Chemistry. In 1961 he accepted the position of Rector Magnificus Designatus and thus prepared the start of the THT. He actually became Rector Magnificus in 1963, and kept that position until his retirement in 1967. Berkhoff studied chemistry at Leiden University. He obtained the doctor's degree in 1929, with his PhD-thesis on 'Osmosis of ternary fluids'. Then he worked until 1961 in the State Mines in Limburg. Here he directed the research and development work for the Chemical Division of the State Mines.