Remembering Dan Epstein

The sad news about Dan Epstein was heard by the officers of the ESCRS during one of our Council meetings, of which he had until recently been a longstanding member. All of us were upset, and it is hard to grasp he is no longer with us. We all knew he had health problems but had hoped they were not that serious. I would like to express here my personal sorrow and the sorrow of our—and his— Society. Dan was a leading member of our Society and meant a lot to all of us.

Dan was a serious and brilliant scientist, expressing his intellectual honesty in ophthalmology, and ophthalmic surgery in particular. His lectures at meetings were full of objective data and taught us to read the actual outcome of surgeries and procedures without prejudice. His capacity for analysis was evident in evaluating published papers— especially in preparing the FEBOS-CR exam. The papers he authored always presented clear and precise data, and many remain landmark papers in ophthalmic literature.

As an ESCRS officer, Dan lived for decades within the Society, always seeking the best in administration and meeting organisation. I learnt from him that to receive an invitation to our symposia, a doctor must be a serious scientist, must know the topic better than others, and must be a good speaker. We owe Dan’s rules a substantial part of our success. His ability to criticise without being rude was invaluable and always led to improvements in our programmes and decisions.

Dan was a good friend to all of us. He used to help those who needed help, encourage those who were uncertain, and acknowledge and congratulate personal successes. His love for ophthalmology turned into a love for ophthalmologists, with special sympathy for the young. He put his deep knowledge of our world at the service of those asking his opinion, his suggestions, his help.

We will miss Dan like we would miss an older brother who held a great place in our life. We join his wife, Beatrice, and his daughter in a virtual hug, participating in their sorrow. His memory will not fade within the Society and the world of ophthalmology in general.

Roberto Bellucci

Editorial Board

Oliver Findl ESCRS President

Noel Alpins (Australia)

Bekir Aslan (Turkey)

Roberto Bellucci (Italy)

Hiroko Bissen-Miyajima (Japan)

John Chang (China)

Béatrice Cochener-Lamard (France)

Oliver Findl (Austria)

Nino Hirnschall (Austria)

Soosan Jacob (India)

Vikentia Katsanevaki (Greece)

Daniel Kook (Germany)

Boris Malyugin (Russia)

Marguerite McDonald (US)

Cyres Mehta (India)

Sorcha Ní Dhubhghaill (Ireland)

Rudy Nuijts (The Netherlands)

Leigh Spielberg (The Netherlands)

Sathish Srinivasan (UK)

Ulf Stenevi (Sweden)

Marie-José Tassignon (Belgium)