The bright lights of the global institutional real estate community are not shining as brightly.  I received news late today (Thursday) that Erwin Stouthamer, founder and CEO of Composition Capital has died. Erwin and I were friends so this is particularly upsetting. Â
In 2004, when I first started traveling to Europe, to scope out whether it made sense to launch The Institutional Real Estate Letter in Europe, I met Erwin  He was then Director of International Real Estate with MN Services (Dutch Metalworkers Union) in The Hague. He was also chairman of INREV, the European Association of Non-listed Real Estate Vehicles. If you read Erwin's biography on the Composition Capital website, it talks about his business accomplishments. Â
In 2005, Erwin struck out on his own and formed Composition, a global real estate fund of funds. I remember seeing him shortly after he launched the company. He told me that he had just rented a one-room office space and was having trouble getting the phone hooked up. Sometimes it's the simple things that we take for granted. Over the years, Composition grew to manage a €2 billion global equity portfolio managed for several institutional clients – not bad right?
But more than his professional accomplishments, Erwin was a sincere and thoughtful friend. When you saw him, chances are he had a big smile on his face. That's the way he was. Over the years, as my career and life evolved, when he asked me: “How are you doing?”, I knew he really meant it.Â
Erwin was a very involved and well-respected member of the industry. He continued being active in INREV as a member of the Management Board. At one point he was chairman of AFIRE (Association of Foreign Investors in (US) Real Estate.
Erwin Stouthamer was also a fun guy, to hang out with at events, to share a meal with and to talk, which he loved to do, about the real estate industry. Â
In 2006, IREI (Institutional Real Estate Inc.) held it's first Editorial Advisory Board Meeting in Europe. There were 12 pension funds/fund of funds consultants and 12 managers. After having spent two years getting sponsors for the publication I knew we had this one chance to prove that IREI offered a worthwhile proposition. The trademark of the Editorial Advisory Board Meeting is it's privacy and it's openness. But, as I had learned, many Europeans are shy about talking about things in a formal setting. I was concerned.Â
Then, the night before the start of the meeting, I had an idea. The next morning, just before the start of the event, I pulled Erwin aside. Â
“I need your help, Erwin. When we ask the first question for general discussion, would you 'volunteer' to be the first one to speak?”
“Of course,” he said without a moment of hesitation. And that's how it went. He spoke first which opened up the dialogue and made everyone else feel comfortable. It was a very special moment – and I always told Erwin how grateful I was to him.  Erwin was a humble man. Yes, he proved to himself that he had that entrepreneurial spirit but he never took the success of Composition Capital for granted and never had a big ego about it.  Â
I'm feeling very sad now and needed to share this with you. I know it's been more than a month since I last published, and I have been working on a column to be published tomorrow. But, this was special. Erwin was a special guy. There's one less light shining in The Netherlands tonight. So long Erwin. I was glad to know you.
Steve Felix is co-founder of Felix/Weiner Consulting Group, a behavioral presentation coaching specialist and former a investment professional at Aviva Investors, the investment management business of UK insurer Aviva.