Kees Elferink

We grieve the sudden passing of a truly great man, Kees Elferink. Kees was one of the richest men who ever lived. Not because of the money in his bank account, but because of the way he lived his life every day. His love for his wife, Lisa, and his daughters, Meagan and Hannah, was something every individual should aspire to.

Born in Holland, Kees migrated to Australia in his youth and his academic journey began at the University of Adelaide, where he met his future wife Lisa in biology class. Six years later they married and began their incredible life together. Their life adventures then took them to Stanford where Kees received his post-doctoral training in pharmacology.

Kees and Lisa had two beautiful daughters, Meagan and Hannah, who Kees adored more than life itself. After an eight-year tenure at Wayne State University, Kees and his family relocated to Galveston, TX and continued his career at UTMB. This is where he raised his beautiful daughters and would spend the rest of his life as an inspiring professor and devoted father and husband.

Kees was a man who was fearless. From wrestling crocodiles in his hometown in Australia, to climbing towering rock faces across California - he loved adventure and always lived in the moment. Throughout his life he traveled across the globe. He was truly a citizen of the world.

He lived. He loved deeply. He laughed every day. He had an endless curiosity and embraced every moment of his waking life. Kees always had the ability to make those around him feel seen and heard.  

He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Lisa, his two daughters, Meagan and Hannah, their significant others, Reid and Ross, his sisters, Brenda and Bartha, and his brothers Johan and Erik. He is preceded in death by his mother and father, Wiepke and Johan Eflerink and his sister Anita.

At this time his family has decided not to have a service, but rather to celebrate his life with the amazing memories of Kees. As a dedicated scientist, mentor, and educator, Kees took great pride in the Elferink Scholarship for Academic Excellence to further foster the education of future great scientists. If you would like to honor Kees’s memory a donation can be made to the scholarship fund at https://www.utmb.edu/giving/give-now

"Those we love never truly leave us, there are things death cannot touch.”

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