Professor Siegfried Hofmann von Kap-herr was born on the 3rd of May 1935 in Dresden, where he studied medicine. He was one of the most eminent pediatric surgeons of his country. He trained with Prof. Fritz Rehbein in Bremen. He wrote a thesis on "Functions of the interposition of intestinal segments during growth".

In 1977 he was nominated to become head of the newly created department of pediatric surgery at the University of Mainz, Germany. Prof. Hofmann von Kap-herr was well-known in the field of pediatric surgery and he was especially well-known due to his work on pediatric traumatology and the development of new methods for ameliorating anorectal incontinence. From 1998–2000 he was the president of the German Association of Pediatric Surgeons. As their president he was the founder and editor of the "Zentralblatt für Kinderchirurgie". This journal was especially created to improve pediatric surgery within the German speaking countries. He was also a member of the Hungarian and Austrian Association of Pediatric Surgery and he was a deeply committed and active member of the Johanniter Orden. Even in his last days Prof. Hofmann von Kap-herr was highly motivated to further develop the training programmes in pediatric surgery in Germany.

Prof. Hofmann von Kap-herr was a very enjoyable and motivated pediatric surgeon. With his death we have lost a very eminent pediatric surgeon and friend.

Unfortunately, an incurable pancreatic tumour was stronger than his personal will. He died on the 8th of September 2002. Prof. Hofmann von Kap-herr is survived by his wife Elisabeth and three sons.