- Email: [email protected]
Now cometh rest.
V O L . 66, N O . 1
OBITUARIES
edge and judgment which differentiates the technician-surgeon from the true physiciansurgeon, John insisted that his residents make their own decisions concerning their individual surgical techniques. If all went well, the resident's abilities and confidence were greatly enhanced ; if there was an error in judgment or technique, however, John was always there to salvage the situation and to help the resident discover for himself where the mistake occurred. John McLean was one of the most adventurous people I have ever met. His dinner conversation was punctuated by tales of the unusual occurrences that took place on the many trips he and Mary Lou enjoyed. One of my favorite of his stories concerns the time when, in his younger days, he and a friend flew under the George Washington Bridge in New York City in an old airplane which was held together mainly by chewing gum and adhesive tape. He was a most impressive speaker, not only in social conversation, but especially in scientific presentation and discourse. We had the great pleasure of having Mary Lou and John McLean here in Miami a few months ago during the Midwinter Seminar. In this very brief remission of his illness, John attended the meetings and even several social affairs. He visited the scientific exhibits, and was heard to make some characteristically astute and critical observations to an exhibitor concerning the deficiencies of a new cryophake instrument ! To those of us who have known and loved him, the untimely death of John McLean is a great loss. In the world of ophthalmology, there is a void which cannot soon be filled. But he will live on, in our memories, and in the lives and accomplishments of his many students in far-flung places who will continue to impart his knowledge and skills, his quest for perfection, and his never-ending intellectual curiosity. "Life's race well run, Life's work well done, Life's victory won,
133
Now cometh rest." (Edward Hazen Parker) Mary K. Norton (Mrs. Edward)
Ophthalmology and medicine has lost one of its great leaders in the cruel death, at an early age, of John McLean. In his relatively short professional life he showed rare excellence as an investigator, original thinker, inspiring teacher and lucid writer. But it was particularly as an eye surgeon that McLean showed his skill, versatility and ingenuity. Confident in his superb ability he truly had "the touch of a butterfly and the courage of a lion." But more than this he had remarkable judgment that was based on knowledge and the taking of great pains. Duke-Elder once confided to me that "John McLean was the best ophthalmic surgeon I have ever seen." Those of us who have seen him work, will agree. Because of these qualities he was able to express his experience in papers, lectures, books and discussions as only a great teacher can do. His writings are now part of our heritage. But I prefer to think of my friend John as a generous and loyal companion, trustworthy and sound. Along with his courageous spirit he had great integrity in word and deed. You could always count on him and his character. He was just beginning to reap the honors that ophthalmology bestows on its best children. Had he lived, we are all certain that he would have won every last one of them. It is a great pity and we suffer. Derrick Vail
Others have related the contributions of John McLean to ophthalmic science and teaching and his activity in a number of medical groups. It is difficult to tell adequately of his effectiveness in organizational ophthalmology for his most productive work was carried out with small groups and his
134
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
J U L Y , 1968
contributions were often not publicly known. His term as a director of the Ophthalmic Publishing Company was unfortunately very brief, but he was a tower of strength to a cautious new editor succeeding Derrick Vail, whose name had become synonymous with the Journal itself. On the American Board of Ophthalmology he provided a quiet leadership and counsel that will be reflected for many years. John McLean had a remarkable analytic approach to life and its problems. His friends will all recall his frequent recourse to a miniature slide rule, a carry-over from his training in engineering. In discussions he was forthright and honest with a transparent integrity that carried through in all phases of his life. Indeed in years to come these may well be his most remembered traits because he was a quiet, reserved person who did not seek the limelight of political preferment. He was selected to the many positions he occupied not because of friendship or politics, but because of the extraordinary contribution he could make to any field in which he became interested. Yet it was a wonderful experience to learn to know him and see the warm side of his nature, his deep friendship, and his wonderful loyalty. Truly we shall miss him. Frank W . Newell ' A. F R A N C E S C H E T T I It is indeed very sad to pay homage to the memory of Professor Franceschetti. I am filled with emotion as I write this, for I have always had for him the deepest admiration and sincerest friendship. Who could help being captivated by a personality as attractive as Franceschetti's? All who knew him were impressed by his immense knowledge and vast erudition, but also, and perhaps even more, fascinated by the youthful vigor of his mind, his enthusiasm, his joviality, and what we may call his simplicity; in fact, we ask ourselves which we admired the more—his achievements as a scientist or his humanity. This master of genetics and ophthalmology would not have
A. F R A N C E S C H E T T I
been so great had he not been so humane. I cannot presume to apprise you of the innumerable merits of Professor Franceschetti, but I owe it to him to recall at least a few details of his life. In 1925, after four years as assistant to Professor Vogt in Zürich, he became chief of staff to Professor Brückner in Basle. It was there that he wrote his important thesis on the intraocular fluids and the hematoocular barrier. From the start of his ophthalmologic studies he was interested in all questions appertaining to ocular genetics, and consequently was the obvious choice to edit the chapter on heredity in ophthalmology in Schieck and Bruckner's "Kurzes Handbuch der Ophthalmologie" (1930). In 1933, he was appointed to the chair of ophthalmology in the University of Geneva, and there he established a school whose renown extends far beyond the boundaries of Switzerland. A n indispensable collaborator in any new treatise, he was asked in 1939 to write the chapter on internal secretions and their relations to ophthalmology in the "Traite
OBITUARIES
edge and judgment which differentiates the technician-surgeon from the true physiciansurgeon, John insisted that his residents make their own decisions concerning their individual surgical techniques. If all went well, the resident's abilities and confidence were greatly enhanced ; if there was an error in judgment or technique, however, John was always there to salvage the situation and to help the resident discover for himself where the mistake occurred. John McLean was one of the most adventurous people I have ever met. His dinner conversation was punctuated by tales of the unusual occurrences that took place on the many trips he and Mary Lou enjoyed. One of my favorite of his stories concerns the time when, in his younger days, he and a friend flew under the George Washington Bridge in New York City in an old airplane which was held together mainly by chewing gum and adhesive tape. He was a most impressive speaker, not only in social conversation, but especially in scientific presentation and discourse. We had the great pleasure of having Mary Lou and John McLean here in Miami a few months ago during the Midwinter Seminar. In this very brief remission of his illness, John attended the meetings and even several social affairs. He visited the scientific exhibits, and was heard to make some characteristically astute and critical observations to an exhibitor concerning the deficiencies of a new cryophake instrument ! To those of us who have known and loved him, the untimely death of John McLean is a great loss. In the world of ophthalmology, there is a void which cannot soon be filled. But he will live on, in our memories, and in the lives and accomplishments of his many students in far-flung places who will continue to impart his knowledge and skills, his quest for perfection, and his never-ending intellectual curiosity. "Life's race well run, Life's work well done, Life's victory won,
133
Now cometh rest." (Edward Hazen Parker) Mary K. Norton (Mrs. Edward)
Ophthalmology and medicine has lost one of its great leaders in the cruel death, at an early age, of John McLean. In his relatively short professional life he showed rare excellence as an investigator, original thinker, inspiring teacher and lucid writer. But it was particularly as an eye surgeon that McLean showed his skill, versatility and ingenuity. Confident in his superb ability he truly had "the touch of a butterfly and the courage of a lion." But more than this he had remarkable judgment that was based on knowledge and the taking of great pains. Duke-Elder once confided to me that "John McLean was the best ophthalmic surgeon I have ever seen." Those of us who have seen him work, will agree. Because of these qualities he was able to express his experience in papers, lectures, books and discussions as only a great teacher can do. His writings are now part of our heritage. But I prefer to think of my friend John as a generous and loyal companion, trustworthy and sound. Along with his courageous spirit he had great integrity in word and deed. You could always count on him and his character. He was just beginning to reap the honors that ophthalmology bestows on its best children. Had he lived, we are all certain that he would have won every last one of them. It is a great pity and we suffer. Derrick Vail
Others have related the contributions of John McLean to ophthalmic science and teaching and his activity in a number of medical groups. It is difficult to tell adequately of his effectiveness in organizational ophthalmology for his most productive work was carried out with small groups and his
134
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
J U L Y , 1968
contributions were often not publicly known. His term as a director of the Ophthalmic Publishing Company was unfortunately very brief, but he was a tower of strength to a cautious new editor succeeding Derrick Vail, whose name had become synonymous with the Journal itself. On the American Board of Ophthalmology he provided a quiet leadership and counsel that will be reflected for many years. John McLean had a remarkable analytic approach to life and its problems. His friends will all recall his frequent recourse to a miniature slide rule, a carry-over from his training in engineering. In discussions he was forthright and honest with a transparent integrity that carried through in all phases of his life. Indeed in years to come these may well be his most remembered traits because he was a quiet, reserved person who did not seek the limelight of political preferment. He was selected to the many positions he occupied not because of friendship or politics, but because of the extraordinary contribution he could make to any field in which he became interested. Yet it was a wonderful experience to learn to know him and see the warm side of his nature, his deep friendship, and his wonderful loyalty. Truly we shall miss him. Frank W . Newell ' A. F R A N C E S C H E T T I It is indeed very sad to pay homage to the memory of Professor Franceschetti. I am filled with emotion as I write this, for I have always had for him the deepest admiration and sincerest friendship. Who could help being captivated by a personality as attractive as Franceschetti's? All who knew him were impressed by his immense knowledge and vast erudition, but also, and perhaps even more, fascinated by the youthful vigor of his mind, his enthusiasm, his joviality, and what we may call his simplicity; in fact, we ask ourselves which we admired the more—his achievements as a scientist or his humanity. This master of genetics and ophthalmology would not have
A. F R A N C E S C H E T T I
been so great had he not been so humane. I cannot presume to apprise you of the innumerable merits of Professor Franceschetti, but I owe it to him to recall at least a few details of his life. In 1925, after four years as assistant to Professor Vogt in Zürich, he became chief of staff to Professor Brückner in Basle. It was there that he wrote his important thesis on the intraocular fluids and the hematoocular barrier. From the start of his ophthalmologic studies he was interested in all questions appertaining to ocular genetics, and consequently was the obvious choice to edit the chapter on heredity in ophthalmology in Schieck and Bruckner's "Kurzes Handbuch der Ophthalmologie" (1930). In 1933, he was appointed to the chair of ophthalmology in the University of Geneva, and there he established a school whose renown extends far beyond the boundaries of Switzerland. A n indispensable collaborator in any new treatise, he was asked in 1939 to write the chapter on internal secretions and their relations to ophthalmology in the "Traite