On 10 September 2018 the sad news came to us that Jaap Kos passed away at the age of 75. Jaap Kos had been ill for quite some time and although he remained optimistic until the end he eventually had to give in.
Jaap Kos was a man of many hats. He first started working as an employee at Philips. After a few years, in 1969, he applied for a job at CNV as a policy advisor of CNV Youth. In 1973 he continued his work at the CNV Dienstenbond where he became vice-president in 1984. In 1 November 1989 he was then appointed as president of the organization. This was formalized during the congress in May 1990. He was to be president from 1989 – 1995.
Apart from his work on national level he also became active internationally through the World Federation of Clerical Workers – WFCW (the current WOW). For many years he was the treasurer. Jaap became president in 1992 and would remain in this position until he left CNV Dienstenbond in 1995.
Through his positions as treasurer and president of the WFCW he got in touch with trade unions worldwide and this resulted in friendship to many. A special relationship he had with the colleagues from BONECO in Curacao who made him Honorary president of the organization.
After leaving the CNV Dienstenbond he did a lot of different things. One of this was his function as City Council Member of his beloved village Huizen. He fulfilled this role from May 2002 until April 2006.
Jaap Kos was a real football-fan and enjoyed watching the matches of his club SV Huizen a lot. In the nineties he was a member of the board of the club. In 2006, after his retirement, he started working as a volunteer for the local radio 6FM. Here he could report on football-matches of his club and on meetings of the City Council.
In all the above it shows that Jaap Kos was real people’s person. He was at its best talking. Verbal communication was his true skill and it made him a beloved person to talk to. He could talk to anyone about anything and despite any language barriers. He was optimistic, enthusiastic, driven and present. One would notice when he was in the room. And he was also someone with a great sense of social conscience and of an opinion.
Jaap Kos will be greatly missed by all who knew him. First and foremost by his wife Ingrid and his family and close friends. But certainly also by all the colleagues he inspired and touched.
