Phuket expat, Microsoft MVP Henry Habermacher passes away

PHUKET: Long-time Rawai resident Henry Habermacher passed away peacefully on the morning of December 11.

Born Heiri Habermacher on July 2, 1961, in Sachseln, Switzerland, he graduated from ETH Zurich in 1986 with a degree in electrical engineering, specializing in acoustics project management superconductivity. In 1994, he received a graduate degree in business management from HWV Luzern – IBR University.

Henry Habermacher, 1961-2014. Photo: Microsoft

Henry started in the computer industry in 1986, working with Imholz Travel, Swissair and then with Credit Suisse AG as a software developer, project manager, and IT consultant.

He travelled to Phuket in the late 1980s, and decided that this is where he wanted to live. He moved to Rawai in 1988 and founded Professional Software Provider Co Ltd, better known as PSP, which specialized in database design and programming, particularly with Microsoft Access.

Henry became one of the world’s foremost authorities on the nuances of Access and SQL Server. He founded the Swiss Society Phuket Community in 1999 and spoke fluent Thai as well as English, Spanish, Italian and German.

In 2001, Henry was named a Microsoft “Most Valuable Professional”. The MVP award recognizes not only technical leadership, but also a willingness to help others with their questions.

Henry was very active as a volunteer in the Microsoft Developer Network forums. He received MVP awards 11 years in a row – remarkable for a database analyst, and nearly unprecedented for a computer professional living in Southeast Asia.

He traveled extensively, and particularly enjoyed working in his garden. Those who knew him well speak highly of his friendliness and trustworthiness.

“When he said he’d do something, he did it.”

Henry leaves behind his wife, Bannawan “Korn” Kesaphithakunn, five sisters, two brothers, and four children – two sons, Daniel Ananda and Phil Thanadon, and two daughters, Jil Aphinya and Heidi Bannawan.

His remains were cremated in a traditional Thai ceremony on December 15.

— Woody Leonhard