French Alps Tour 2003
Posted on Sat, Jul. 26, 2003
Jos Henkens, 50, venture capitalist and avid cyclist
MENLO PARK MAN LAUDED FOR SAVVY, HUMANITY
By Sue Chenoweth
Mercury News
Mr. Henkens joined ATV 20 years ago as a general partner for the bicoastal company. ``But in many respects, Jos was the ATV's principal leader,'' said Steve Baloff, another general partner who signed on seven years ago, largely because of his colleague's reputation. ``Jos was an anchor in the venture capital community,'' Baloff said. ``He worked tirelessly to build and maintain a far-reaching network of highly respected investors, partners and entrepreneurs. At least 10 that Jos invested in became successful public companies -- and that's the first measure of success in our business.''
Guy Kawasaki, CEO of Garage Technology Ventures and a family friend, said: ``Jos was an insightful and sophisticated investor, despite the fact that he invested in me!''
But what really made Mr. Henkens so successful was utter decency and a lot of humanity, said Kathryn Henkens, his wife of 24 years. ``On the days Jos shared his frustrations, I would congratulate him on being one of the good guys and for sticking to his values,'' she said. ``I reminded him that it was something he could feel good about at the end of every day.''
Mr. Henkens was born in Hunsel, a small village in the Netherlands. His father was principal of an elementary school, and higher education was paramount in the household. Mr. Henkens was a summa cum laude graduate of Leiden University in the Netherlands, where he earned bachelor's and master's degrees in physics. In 1977, he moved to the United States to continue his studies at Stanford University. While working on his master's of business and master's of science in engineering economic systems, he met Kathryn Mayall, a junior at Mills College.
``Jos was shy and funny -- and nothing like the fraternity boys I'd previously dated,'' she said. ``He said he was here in California to stay, and that there were easier ways to get a green card.'' The couple finished their degrees and married April 28, 1979. ``Jos and his sister could pack a restaurant with their parties,'' said Will Mayall, Kathryn Henkens' brother. ``They traveled a lot, always with their kids.'' A favorite destination was Bear Valley, where they were building a vacation home. The Henkens' Menlo Park residence was a happy place. ``You could just knock and walk in,'' Mayall said. ``It had a European feel and classical music was usually playing.''
Mr. Henkens served on a number of boards, including Actel, Credence, Docent, CaseCentral, Tripwire and RFco, and he was active with his children's school, Children's International in Palo Alto. In his spare time he enjoyed his children, Emma, Johan and Pieter, Saturday morning bike rides to buy bagels, and shopping trips at Fry's.
It was cold in Santa Cruz on June 28, the last time Mr. Henkens and Mayall talked. ``Jos had ridden his bike over the hill from Palo Alto,'' Mayall said. ``We sat on the beach, talked about life, his upcoming bike trip and Emma's horse-jumping competitions while Johan and Pieter flew kites. As the fog rolled in, Jos joked about how we always managed to pick the coldest and windiest days to go to the beach,'' Mayall said. ``It was one of those days.''
Jos Henkens Born: July 29, 1952, in Hunsel, the Netherlands Died: July 8, 2003, in France
Survived by: His wife, Kathryn Henkens of Menlo Park; daughter, Emma, and sons Johan and Pieter of Menlo Park; his mother, Mia Henkens of Ell, the Netherlands; brothers, Leon Henkens of Werkhoven, the Netherlands, and Willen Henkens of Zevenaar, the Netherlands; and sister, Marjan Span-Henkens of Maastricht, the Netherlands.
Services: Held in the Netherlands. A memorial service in Memorial Church at Stanford University will be held at 3 p.m. Aug. 7.
Memorial: Donations in Jos Henkens' name can be sent to the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health, Stanford University Medical Center, 770 Welch Road, Suite 350, Palo Alto, Calif. 94304; or Children's International School, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, Calif. 94036.
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