IN MEMORIAM. For almost thirty years, Sören Lundberg worked as a research engineer at the Institute of Clinical Sciences, dealing with both experimental equipment and computer programs. His colleagues remember him fondly, and share their words of remembrance here.
Tuesday, November 21 was an ordinary day until we learned that our friend and colleague Sören Lundberg had died suddenly and unexpectedly the previous day. Since then, we have been trying to understand the incomprehensible: Sören is no longer with us. He won’t be sitting in his usual corner on the couch drinking coffee, he won’t be standing working at his remarkable desk, and he won’t come walking down the corridor.
Sören was employed as a research engineer, but referred to himself as a signaling physicist. He was hired in 1994 at the Department of Physiology by Lars Fändriks. Around 2000, the lab moved down to Gastlab at Kirurgen II, and the Department of Gastro Research was formed. Naturally, Sören moved there too. He designed computer programs for the experimental equipment. Some of these were uniquely developed at the Department of Physiology, while others were clinically developed. He also wrote data collection programs for questionnaires, and linked these to advanced statistical analyses and much more.
With advances in computerization, Sören became more involved in delivering new computers; first to his own division, and then to the whole department. This resulted in fewer lab programming tasks, but more computer deliveries and consulting jobs to train doctoral students and other researchers in subjects such as statistical programs. Sören’s employment was eventually changed to include the entire department, but he always kept his room with us at Gastlab/Forskningsmottagning Kirurgi.
Sören was a quiet, strongly principled, and kind-hearted person, and everyone who met him has testified to his great helpfulness. The beautiful messages in his book of condolences show how many people he touched in different ways. “Sören, this isn’t how things were supposed to end. We hadn’t finished discussing, drinking coffee together, or laughing. Now it’s too late.”
Sören – we miss you, and we still haven’t come to terms with your absence.
Thank you for everything!
Your friends and colleagues
via Anna Casselbrant, Lasse Fändriks, My Engström, and Tina Biörserud
