Keith
Mattison
Keith Mattison – a legend in his lifetime! I first met Keith
in late 1968 / early 1969. I had come back to SA from Canada to install a then
leading edge life assurance system at a major local company. The objective was
to take this assurer from quill pen to highly automated, online processing
using the latest generation of IBM computers – the System/360. How naive of me!
Just at the point of submerging below the quicksand, I desperately needed help.
Who should walk in looking for a job but Keith. After five minutes on the job
challenges that lay ahead and fifteen minutes talking about Canada,
“Moosejaw” Mattison signed on and we
became a team. Keith took on all the technical stuff, along with Gys Bruins,
while I dealt with the company issues of restructuring, staffing, education,
project management and so on.
We took up residence at the company. The long hours spent
there daily seemed endless. Of course team building by us among their IT staff
was key and took place frequently at all the watering holes nearby. It was a
case of work hard, play harder. A couple of years later the job was basically
done. The company was reasonably self-sufficient and both Keith and I moved on
– Keith, by the grace of God, to Cape Town.
IBM-SA in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s was a small.
dynamic, tightly knit group of people. It was staffed by “misfits” from every
other professional walk of life. This made for an exciting working environment
and one hell of a raucously active social life. It was the time of the
“Swinging 70’s”. Exuberant house parties were the order of the day. Keith,
despite his very talented classical music background, took to it like a duck to
water. Fortunately Ruth and Anne, my wife, at least publicly showed tolerance
and were there to pick up the pieces. Thank goodness drinking and driving was
still acceptable in those days.
Then there were the “Back to Nature” forays, camping in the
lowveld with the Freemans and Hindmarshes – but no tent pegs etc. Keith,
Alistair Yuill and I did our first 5-day hike together. It was the Fanie Botha
trail from Sabie to Graskop. The route was designed by Fanie the Sadist who,
every time he had the option to go over or around a mountain, chose over. Being
novices, we were laden with meat to braai, whisky, bacon and eggs etc. The end of day one, exhausted and blistered,
saw a wholesale shedding of supplies.
With Keith down in Cape Town our contact became sporadic. We
did manage to enjoy Keith and Ruth’s generous hospitality in Constantia on a
few occasions. More recently, Keith did some consulting up in Johannesburg.
When here, he would call and we would meet for dinner and reminiscing. On one
occasion he almost got me interested in joining him on a sail to Rio, but the
extension of the trip to try and go around the Horn brought me to my senses.
As I sit here, I am trying to conjure up a clear and concise
picture of Keith in my mind. It is simply not possible as the breadth, depth
and scope of the man is too great. He is technically brilliant; a highly
talented musician; a very skillful card player; a passionate sailor; a hectic
but competent rally driver; an enthusiastic party animal; a fount of knowledge
on almost everything; a generous host; and a committed friend. His family is at
the center of his being. Keith and Ruth have done a wonderful job with their
children. In addition to all of this, Keith’s infectious enthusiasm, boundless
energy and wonderful sense of humour leave Anne and I feeling privileged indeed
to know him and count him among the small group of people who are our close
friends.
You are forever in our thoughts.
Bruno and Anne Ganter
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