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Rolf Gaillard died on November 17th, 2011 in Switzerland following a courageous struggle with illness over the past few years. Rolf is survived by his wife Francine and their two children. In his career, Rolf attained the highest levels of leadership and professional achievement. As an academic he rose to be Professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, and as a senior clinician he was Chairman of the Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois. With research collaborators across the globe, Rolf published hundreds of studies, chapters and books many of them in leading journals that illustrated his broad knowledge. Rolf will be best remembered as a builder of the clinical specialty of Endocrinology in Europe and for his contributions to the structures of our academic organizations in Endocrinology and Neuroendocrinology. Beginning in 1994, Rolf became an active participant in the Endocrinology Section of the Union of European Medical Specialists (UEMS), the body that oversees higher medical specialization in the EU and related countries. Rolf later became Secretary-Treasurer of the European Board of Endocrinology within the UEMS in 1998, and served as President of the Endocrinology Section from 2002 onwards. Also Rolf played a central role in fostering the development of the European Neuroendocrine Association (ENEA), first as Treasurer for many years, followed most recently to his elevation to the Presidency of the ENEA. He worked tirelessly on all aspects of the ENEA, including the success of the ENEA Congresses and Workshops. He continued to contribute ideas and inspiration for all activities of the ENEA right up to his final months. Rolf also served in recent years in a senior role in the European Society of Endocrinology, where he was a member of the Executive Board. In addition to his outstanding professional career, Rolf was also a dear friend and a colleague to many in our specialty, and it was as much his generous character and temperament as his hard work that made him such an influential and beloved person. Rolf was an enthusiastic communicator, both warm and empathic, whose friendship was highly valued by all who knew him.

Professor A. Beckers

Chief, Department of Endocrinology

CHU de Liège

Domaine Universitaire du Sart-Tilman

4000 Liège

Belgium

Tel: +32-4-366.70.83 or 8226

Fax: +32-4-366.72.61

e-mail: albert.beckers@chu.ulg.ac.be