During the night from the 15th to the 16th of July, 2017, Colin de la Motte-Sherman died. A well-known trade union activist, who has done tremendous work as the international representative of the Regenbogen (=Rainbow) group of the German trade union Ver.di (and previously: ÖTV). He was a fierce defender of human rights, literate and politically very aware, but also an expert on culture and someone who could speak both German and English as his mother tongue. Not always easy to get along with, because of his tenacity and persistance, but always standing firmly by his ideals. It typifies him that back then he moved to the GDR (East-Germany), thinking that he could do more for his ideals over there than in the United Kingdom (or Western Germany). And that he chose to keep the inclusion of his wife's family name in his own, even after they divorced. From the GDR, and later the united Germany, he was also active in the peace movement and worked as main editor of a magazine on culture, politics and off-base eroticism; he was also co-founder and long-time contributor to the international cultural network that was based in ILGA. And, apart from his ver.Di activities, he was active in Amnesty International, a role he kept playing, even as his strength began to dwindle. An inspired and intelligent activist passed away.