On 10 March 2003, Professor Dr. med. Hermann Olbing died at the age of 72 years. From 1975 until 1996 he was a distinguished member of the MedicaI Faculty of the University of Essen and Head of the Department of Pediatric Nephrology.

As a passionate pediatrician, inspiring university teacher, and an effective and successful scientist, he attained a multitude of excellent scientific achievements. With a group of enthusiastic colleagues, he designed and established the International Reflux Study in Children. His enormous energy, commitment, encouragement, and outstanding leadership were instrumental in the completion of the 10-year study that compared operative and conservative management of vesicoureteric reflux.

From 1980 to 1983 Hermann Olbing was president of the German Society for Pediatrics and was actively involved in the prevention of child abuse in Germany. In 1983 he founded the first advice center for the protection of children in Essen against neglect and abuse.

Last but not least, he was deeply committed to teaching medical students and to the continuous education of pediatricians. He developed new concepts for improving the education of students, with the introduction of instructive video presentations and computer-aided dialogue learning programs for medical students.

He was a charming and delightful person, and it was a pleasure to work with him. We are deeply grateful to Hermann Olbing for his personal and professional contributions to the care of children worldwide.