It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Dr. Lawrence Gideon Raisz. Larry was a friend, a mentor and a leader for many of us in the field of bone and mineral research—a true giant in the field and one who will be sorely missed.

Larry was born in New York City on 13 November 1925 and was raised in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He received his MD from Harvard and completed his medical training in Boston. Before moving to the University of Connecticut (U Conn), Dr Raisz held positions in Syracuse and Rochester. At U Conn, Larry served as Director of Endocrinology and Metabolism and was instrumental in the development of the Lowell P. Weicker Clinical Research Center, becoming its first Program Director in 1993. He was also Director of the University of Connecticut Center for Osteoporosis and first Program Director of the New England Musculoskeletal Institute.

Larry’s contributions to the field of bone and mineral research are legendary. He published multiple basic and clinical research papers in all major peer-reviewed publications, many of which became landmark publications that inspired the work of others in the field. He was a founding member of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, the pre-eminent research society in the field. Larry was the second President of the Society and first Editor-in-Chief of the society’s journal (Journal of Bone and Mineral Research). The success of that journal as a renowned source of basic and clinical research in the field is in no small way due to Larry’s drive and enthusiasm as well as his keen understanding of the merits of papers he received.

In the recent past, Larry’s contributions extended beyond the scientific arena into the realm of public health. He recognized that osteoporosis was an under-appreciated problem in the USA and globally. He became a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the National Osteoporosis Foundation and later served as its Chairman, as well as chairing the Education Committee of the Foundation. He became a member of the Board of Trustees and served as Scientific Editor of the Surgeon General’s Report on Osteoporosis and Bone Health published in 2004. Not completely satisfied with the report as an end product, Larry played a key role in the development of a National Action Plan for Osteoporosis, based on the recommendations in the Surgeon General’s Report.

Dr Raisz was the recipient of many prestigious awards. Perhaps, the most unique occurred in 1990 when HM King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden conferred on him the degree of Honorary Doctor of Odontology. The most recent of his many awards came in May of 2010 when the National Osteoporosis Foundation named him a “Legend of Osteoporosis,” which indeed he was—probably the best-known physician scientist in the field in the entire world. The foundation was pleased and honored that Larry was able to travel to Washington to receive the award in person.

As well as living according to his motto “Work is the only reliable pleasure,” Larry had a full family life and leaves his wife Helen, five children, and six grandchildren. He was a world traveler, avid skier, and wind surfer, as well as a passionate reader of Shakespeare and American history. He was a devoted Yankee fan, a formidable Scrabble player, and the “official” poet of his family.

We will miss him greatly, but for many in the field, the fond remembrance will be of Larry at scientific meetings, when he would be the first to the microphone after every presentation with his introduction of “Raisz, Connecticut,” always followed by the most insightful comments and questions.

Robert Lindsay

John A. Kanis

Rene Rizzoli

Cyrus Cooper

David W. Dempster

Felicia Cosman

Jeri Nieves

Fina Liu

Adrianne Tewksbury

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