[rpd] In Memoriam: Alan Barrett

[Timothy Ola Akinfenwa]

Ha! This is so shocking to read.

I met Alan during my earliest AfNOG days in 2013, he was such a kind,
gentle and very humble personality. You would hardly believe he carried so
much aura and wisdom with his unique and simple lifestyle. A mighty
*iroko *tree
has indeed fallen in the forest of Africa's internet ecosystem.

May God Almighty console the family and friends, and give them the
fortitude to bear this great loss.

Rest in power, Alan!

<.a/>


"Be happy with what you have and are, be generous with both, and you won't
have to hunt for happiness." ~ William E. Gladstone

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On Thu, May 28, 2026 at 1:46 PM Andrew Alston <aa at alstonnetworks.net> wrote:

> Dear friends and colleagues,
>
> As some of you will already be aware, it is with immense sadness that we
> confirm, on behalf of his wife Kerry and the family, the passing of Alan
> Barrett. Alan died on May 28th in Cape Town, South Africa, following a
> diagnosis of late-stage cancer about a month ago. We are sharing this
> notice so that the community has accurate information at a moment when
> Kerry and the family need space to grieve.
>
> Alan was a friend, a willing listener, and someone who always stepped up
> to help when called upon. His contributions to the African Internet
> ecosystem were second to none, and with his passing we lose not only a
> friend but a giant of the industry.
>
> In 1990, Alan helped establish the very first Internet connection to South
> African universities, and in 1993 he co-founded the country's first
> commercial Internet Service Provider. In 1997 he co-authored the proposal
> to create AfriNIC and subsequently served on the steering committee tasked
> with bringing it into being. Alan served on the AfriNIC board from 2004 to
> 2009 and was a member of the NRO NC from 2004 to 2014. In 2015 he was
> appointed CEO of AfriNIC, a role he held until 2019.
>
> Beyond Africa, he was a central participant in the IANA Stewardship
> Transition Coordination Group, and until his death served on the ICANN
> board on behalf of the Address Supporting Organisation.
>
> Alan will be sorely missed by the community, his relatives and his wife,
> Kerry.
>
> Kerry and the family ask for privacy at this time. We will be organising
> an online memorial in due course and will share details once they are
> available.
>
> Andrew Alston
> Remco van Mook
> _______________________________________________
> RPD mailing list
> RPD at afrinic.net
> https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo/rpd
>
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