This year three neuroradiologists who made a lasting contribution to the field of neuroradiology passed away. All three belonged to my generation who, although they have retired, could still not stop working on the fascinating field of neuroradiology. The three saw neuroradiology as a vocation, as a kind of calling. They worked internationally and were in close contact with German neuroradiology, which is why they were well known to us, they were our friends and in many cases cooperation partners.

Jean-Jacques Merland originated from the birthplace of interventional neuroradiology, as a student and successor of René Djindjian. He himself was a teacher for many active neuroradiologists working internationally. In recognition of his achievements, he was awarded the Ziedses-des-Plantes Medal of the German Society of Neuroradiology.

Anton Valavanis was also among the first interventional neuroradiologists. Likewise, he was in close contact with German neuroradiologists and was an active participant in our first Workshop Interventional Neuroradiology (WIN) meetings in the late 1980s, which we founded at the DGNR annual conference in Stuttgart in September 1985. What made him special was that he was not only working scientifically in interventional neuroradiology, but also carried out basic research in the field of neuroscience. Although interventions were his main focus, he also had a broad knowledge of the entire discipline of neuroradiology that hardly anyone could match. He also wanted to pass on his knowledge, he wanted to teach, as is shown by the courses he organized in Zurich which were highly esteemed internationally.

Werner Wichmann was our teacher at many events thanks to his experience and excellent knowledge of advanced neuroimaging. Hardly anyone had such broad knowledge in this area or mastered this methodology as he did. We learned a lot from him.

Due to their broad radiological and clinical knowledge, the three were highly valued, equal partners of neurologists, neurosurgeons and ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) physician. They also emphasized and represented the interdisciplinary focus of neuroradiology. We have lost three great personalities who dominated our discipline and whose traces will last in the field of neuroradiology for a long time.