Paul Rüpp has passed away from cancer at the age of 65. Until recently he was mayor of the municipality of Maashorst and a prominent CDA politician in Brabant. Rüpp had to resign from his job as mayor in December 2022 and decided to step down permanently three months later because his treatment was not working.
Rüpp was appointed acting mayor of Maashorst at the end of 2021. This municipality was created on 1 January last year through the merger of Uden and Landerd. At the end of June last year, the city council nominated him as the new mayor. It never came from an official swearing-in. It was canceled a week in advance due to his illness.
In the fall of 2022, an incurable form of bladder cancer with metastases was discovered. Because the treatment could not be combined with his busy schedule, he reported sick in December. He then hoped to be able to return once the tumors were under control.
Because his treatment did not work and he became increasingly ill, he permanently stopped as mayor three months later. “I have chosen not to undergo any further treatments, a sad and difficult decision,” said Rüpp at the time, who wanted to devote his time and energy fully to his family.
Fighter jet pilot
Paul Rüpp was born in Breda in 1957, but moved to Uden when he was three. After completing the gymnasium at the Kruisheren Kollege in Uden, he wanted to become a jet fighter pilot. He was accepted at the Royal Military Academy in Breda, but was rejected because of his too long legs.
Rüpp briefly studied at the agricultural college in Wageningen, but eventually opted for Dutch language and literature in Nijmegen. From 1981 he taught Dutch at his old secondary school in Uden and remained so until 1992.
Politician
Rüpp was active in all kinds of boards and associations and, as chairman and editor-in-chief, was one of the founders of Uden’s first local broadcaster. In the late 1980s he became politically active for the CDA in Uden, first as a municipal councilor and from 1991 as an alderman.
From 2003 he was deputy in Brabant for six years. Provincial spokesman Arnoud Reijnen remembers Paul Rüpp as a ‘firm’ administrator with a clear opinion, which he also expressed. “At the same time, he was very approachable, socially involved and he had a real sense of humour. He was a privateer, but I liked him.”
Stick out neck
Reijnen believes that Rüpp has meant a lot to housing in Brabant in his time as a deputy. “He also stuck his neck out. The province and ZLTO didn’t have a good relationship at the time. He just went there, into the lion’s den to restore that relationship. I thought that was very strong.”
At Avans University of Applied Sciences, Rüpp was able to combine his experience as an administrator and teacher. He became chairman of the Executive Board in 2009 and remained so until he became mayor of Maashorst in 2021. Just under two weeks ago, Rüpp was honored by Avans with a large chess game in the garden of the Education Boulevard in Den Bosch. He was to everyone’s surprise himself at the unveiling.
Chamberlain
In 2013, Rüpp became Chamberlain in Brabant for Queen Beatrix and later King Willem-Alexander. Chamberlains support and advise the king, among other things, in the preparation and implementation of royal visits. “I am very honored to be able to hold this great position,” he said.
