He was proud of his family roots and bought from me ten copies of my fathers’
family history. And that would not have been Erhard himself, if he wouldn’t have
used these confidence inspiring 600 years of family history in book form to
convince his Eastern European business partners of his loyalty, which he equally
expected from his close colleagues, although he didn’t always receive it. That’s
why he always tried to integrate trustworthy and qualified family members into
his company, who were to realize his ideas.
Reinhard Ding**
04/30/2015*
Brilliant ideas
combined with an
irresistible optimism,
a gift for languages
as well as his
eloquence soon
made him very
successful in his
career, letting all his
dreams come true.
Ultimately he even
gained Swiss
citizenship.
Still, when he was
burdened with deep
family problems, for years he asked my father for advice, approached my brother
with technical issues and came to my wife Christina and me when he faced illness.
As a patient at the surgical ward in Heidelberg, when he seemed to despair in his
impatience, I was able to encourage him with the words: “A Ding doesn’t throw in
the towel but fights to the end”. Erhard nodded, as he couldn’t speak at that time,
stood up and was soon to be again on top of things.
In this way he continually returned to the family: Without any doubt, to Erhard
Edingen meant home, the family protection and a feeling of belonging.
*this speech was delivered on 04/24/2015
**unauthorized translation from German
