The Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FEB UGM), is deeply saddened by the passing of a retired lecturer from the Department of Accounting, Drs. Placidus Sudibyo, M.Sc., who passed away on Saturday, 17 January 2025, at the age of 75, at Fatmawati Hospital, Jakarta. The late Drs. Placidus Sudibyo was laid to rest on Sunday, 18 January 2026, at Cilandak Selatan Cemetery, Jakarta.
Dean of FEB UGM, Dr. Didi Achjari, M.Com., Ak., CA., expressed his profound condolences on the passing of Drs. Placidus Sudibyo, M.Sc., who had contributed significantly to the development of education, particularly in the field of accounting.
“On behalf of the entire FEB UGM community, we extend our deepest condolences. May the late Drs. Placidus Sudibyo be granted the best place by Allah SWT, and may the family he leaves behind be given strength and comfort,” said Didi.
Dr. Hardo Basuki, M.Soc.Sc., CSA., CA., a colleague from the Department of Accounting FEB UGM, shared his sense of loss for a friend, companion, and mentor.
“The late Mas Placidus Sudibyo was a person I have known throughout his life for his sincerity, generosity, and kindness,” he recalled.
Hardo vividly remembers his early days as a newly appointed lecturer in the 1976 cohort, when the late Placidus Sudibyo, who joined the faculty in 1973, served as a supportive friend and older brother to younger colleagues. He was not only physically present but also brought warmth, comfort, and a great sense of humor.
Hardo further recalled that in the 1990s, Pak Placidus regularly played badminton with fellow lecturers and students at the AA YKPN Sports Hall in Balapan, Yogyakarta. Between matches, his distinctive jokes often filled the room with laughter. After exercising, he would take his colleagues to enjoy gudeg at a street-side stall in front of Malaya Pharmacy on Urip Sumoharjo Street.
“He was extremely generous, not measured by the size of his wealth, but by the depth of his empathy,” Hardo explained.
This sincerity shone through in his small gestures, such as helping others without being asked, and in the joy and comfort he brought to others through his signature Yogyakarta-style humour. These values are what made the late Drs. Placidus Sudibyo is deeply cherished by many.
“Farewell, Mas Sudibyo. Thank you for teaching us kindness, care, and the true meaning of friendship,” he said.
Meanwhile, Professor of Accounting at FEB UGM, Prof. Dr. Abdul Halim, M.B.A., Ak., CA., shared that Drs. Placidus Sudibyo was a kind lecturer and served as his undergraduate thesis supervisor.
“Pak Placidus was a motivator who encouraged students to keep learning and to strive hard for success. Farewell, my lecturer, who was always smiling and humble,” he said.
Professor of Economics at FEB UGM, Prof. Dr. Catur Sugiyanto, M.A., who had known Dr. Placidus Sudibyo since the early days of his academic career, also shared memories of his exemplary character.
Catur recalled the first meeting with Drs. Placidus Sudibyo in 1987, when he had just started his career as a young lecturer. At the time, the faculty had a housing facilitation program for new lecturers. Catur and Mas Dib, his affectionate nickname for Placidus Sudibyo, along with several other young lecturers, lived together in a shared residence in Pik Gondang, north of Sawitsari, Condongcatur, Sleman.
In Catur’s view, Mas Dib was more than a colleague; he was someone who instilled confidence and courage. He played an essential role in encouraging his peers to pursue further studies abroad.
“Mas Dib encouraged us until we dared to study overseas. Akhmad Makhfatih and I continued our master’s studies in Canada, while Hargo Utomo went to the United States. Communication was still through postal mail at that time, and Mas Dib was always there for us,” he recounted.
After returning from Canada, Placidus Sudibyo continued to serve as a loyal mentor, particularly during the final years of the Inter-University Center for Economic Studies (PAU SE) on Jalan Teknika Utara, Barek. During this period, he was known for his skill in guiding younger colleagues through bureaucracy, identifying opportunities, and making strategic moves with his characteristic straightforward and bold approach.
The attentiveness and strategic insight of Drs. Placidus Sudibyo, M.Sc., in responding to calls for proposals, also contributed to securing funding for PAU SE, which later developed into the Center for Economics and Public Policy Studies (PSEKP). Through PSEKP and URGE (University Research and Graduate Education) funding from the World Bank, several lecturers pursued doctoral studies.
“Mas Dib always said, mbuh piye, mengko mesthi iso (somehow, it will surely work out in the end),” he said, expressing his gratitude for the guidance he received from the late Drs. Placidus Sudibyo since the beginning of his service at FEB UGM.
Drs. Placidus Sudibyo, M.Sc., was born in Yogyakarta on 5 October 1950. He completed his undergraduate studies in 1980 and earned his master’s degree from the University of Albany, USA, in 1987. His academic career at FEB UGM began in 1981, and he officially retired in 2008.
Report by: Kurnia Ekaptiningrum
