David T. Purtilo, M.D. April 13, 1939–September 28, 1992

David T. Purtilo, M.D. April 13,1939September 28,1992 It is with deep sadness that I announce the untimely passing of Dr. David T. Purtilo, a close personal friend and member of the Editorial Board of Cancer Genetics and Cytogenetics. David was at the height of his professional career and private life when tragedy struck him down. The loss to the fields of his interest and to those of us who knew him personally is indescribable and profound. At a relatively young age, David was already the author of nearly 300 major publications, a good portion of them dealing with his special field of interest, oncogenesis in immunodeficient patients. He was also an author and editor of a number of books dealing with this area. His loss to this field is beyond measure. In a relatively short time as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Pathology and Microbiology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha he attracted an outstanding staff, both clinical and research, expanded the investigative scope of the department and became a leader in immunogenetics. David was a generous and caring person. I remember walking with him (and his two wonderful dogs) in the woods surrounding his home outside Omaha and the care and attention he bestowed on the woods and everything living in it. The tragedy is compounded by the joy he felt and expressed about his very recent marriage and the building of a new home in the forests near Omaha. My wife, Maryn, who is very sensitive to those qualities which make us human and humane, not only looked upon David as a close friend of ours, but also as one endowed with the human qualities of tenderness and understanding. We shall miss David very much. He was a friend of Cancer Genetics and Cytogenetics even before he became a member of the Editorial Board. As a reviewer he was fair and prompt. To his wife, Sandra, and family we express our deepest sympathy. With them we shall always remember David as a man who instilled in people a desire to dream and then worked desperately to help make these dreams come true. A.A. Sandberg Editor-in-Chief