Herinneren is een vorm van ontmoeten…

Since I met you in 2022, you have greatly impacted my life. Your kindness, Knowledge sharing, empathy, and un ending support will forever be appreciated. To me you were more than a supervisor, mentor, advisor, you were a real friend. Your great humour , ideas, knwoledge and support has so much shaped my accademic journey. You have written your legacy in our hearts and we shall forever remember you. Your legacy will be carried forward. Though you leave very deep wounds in our hearts, we celebrate your life. You have lived a great life by sharing your great knowledge with very many people - You have put a great brick in making the world a better place.
My deepest heartfelt condolences to the friends, colleagues and most importantly the family.

You will forever be on our hearts Abel!
May your soul rest in Eternal peace
David - Germany

Dear relatives of Abel, I am very saddened to hear of Abel's sudden death. I have known Abel since his days as a Student and now as a colleague. I remember him as a gentle and humorous person with whom it was nice to work. He was attentive to the profession, but also to colleagues. And he was proud of his family. He will be missed by his colleagues. I wish you all every strength for the future.

I remember hiring Abel at ITC not just because he was an exceptionally promising young scientist, but also because of his infectious enthusiasm, easy laugh, and wonderfully relaxed demeanour. What stood out most was his remarkable ability to explain complex ideas with simplicity and clarity.
He studied at ITC as an MSc students way back in 2009/10 and when Abel returned to ITC as an Associate Professor in the NRS department, the joy he felt was evident to everyone. It was a privilege to work alongside him, exchanging ideas about PhD and MSc topics and putting the world to right. His unique blend of passion and expertise made him an outstanding mentor—guiding students with both rigour and warmth.
Abel brought a fresh, creative spirit to everything he did, from his innovative approach to modelling to his famous travelling workstation in a suitcase. It was a joy to brainstorm with him about big, bold ideas—like modelling the impact of climate change on food systems and vice versa. His curiosity knew no bounds.
He approached every task, project, and course with genuine excitement, a quality that inspired all of us who had the pleasure of working with him. Unsurprisingly, he was constantly in demand. My only advice to him, to manage that, was to remember that saying “no” was a perfectly acceptable answer. And now, I find myself saying “no”—no, this isn’t fair; this is not the way the story is supposed to end.
I will deeply miss Abel, a brilliant mind, a kind soul, and a dear colleague.

It is heartbreaking to hear of your passing.
May your soul find peace and eternal rest.
My deepest condolences to your loved ones—may they find strength, comfort, and healing during this profoundly difficult time.

Revelation 21:4
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.

Words cannot express the deep sorrow I feel upon hearing of Abel’s passing. He was not only my supervisor but also an advisor, a mentor, and someone whose wisdom and kindness touched my life. I remember the conversation we had about his surgery and then he say, may be I will die, who knows? then I say, no you can’t, don’t plan for the death then we smile.
Abel’s passion for teaching, his ability to simplify the complex, and his willing to support were truly inspiring. He had a gift of making everyone around him feel valued and motivated. Abel’s legacy will remain forever.
During this difficult time, my thoughts and prayers are with you all especially Abel’s family. May you find comfort in the love and memories you shared with him, and may his remarkable spirit continue to inspire us every day.

There are no words that can describe the sadness I feel about your loss, Abel. You were the definition of life, of energy, of empathy, of kindness. You led by example in so many ways – most of all in how you interacted with, and how you treated others. While I feel the gap you leave behind, I will remember you with a smile, and hope you may rest in peace.
My heartfelt condolences go out to your family, to your friends, to your community, your colleagues to your students – and everyone you inspired.
Carmen

It is still hard to process that you are gone and no longer with us. Your warm presence, bright smile, and sharp sense of humor will always stay with me.
It is incredibly difficult to accept, but we all know that life can be painfully unfair and unpredictable.
You left too soon, but your spirit, kindness, and energy will never be forgotten.
Rest in peace, dear Abel.
Elnaz

Just last year when I started my Master's at ITC, I took a course with Dr.Chemura on crop suitability modelling. With his humor and interesting lectures there was never a dull moment in class. His passion for the subject made us better learners. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and all those who had the privilege of knowing and learning from him.