DOI Foundation Remembers Managing Agent Jonathan Clark

During an annual meeting in Rome Sept. 15-17, members of the DOI Foundation, the nonprofit group that manages the Digital Object Identifier (DOI) system, honored longtime managing agent Jonathan Clark, who died suddenly Aug. 11.

“Dr. Jonathan Clark was a friend and colleague to many of us for over 20 years,” said Ginny Hendricks, treasurer of the DOI Foundation. “He was encouraging and generous in all interactions, with a particular kind of enthusiasm that could win over even the most cantankerous of us; he somehow made everyone glad to be working with him, not least because he also chose the best restaurants – and the best wines! The DOI community will miss his strategic insight, his facilitation, and his knack for moving things along, as much as his warmth. Our thoughts are with his family and wide circle of friends.”

The DOI system and services have continued to operate normally under the direction of the DOI Foundation board of directors. Richard Kroon, technical director of the Entertainment ID Registry, was among those on hand in Rome to get an update on the work DOI has in its future.

“Because Jonathan handled so much himself as managing agent, much of our work was information-gathering: we set the agenda, picked up administrative tasks like supporting travel visas for members around the world, and hosted the three days,” Hendricks said. “It was productive, and a good chance to share memories of Jonathan. We held a moment's silence, and more than once someone asked what Jonathan would have done. He left the Foundation in good order; our job as the board now is to keep it that way.”