The neuropathology community was recently saddened by the loss of Professor Felix Cruz‐Sanchez on July 24, 2011. Since trying to summarize the prolonged and fruitful neuropathology work of Prof Cruz‐Sanchez is an insurmountable task, I will rather focus on his personal attributes. He was born in Cordoba, Argentina, in 1956, where he graduated in medicine at the Universidad Nacional in 1979. Afterwards Felix moved to Barcelona, Spain, for neurology residency training at Hospital Vall d'Hebron. During his residency he developed a strong interest in neuropathology, finding its position as a bridge between clinical neurology and pathology highly attractive.
In this setting, he learned about Professor Cervos‐Navarro, then at the Free University of Berlin, renowned for his work on brain edema and pioneering ultrastructural studies. In 1983, Felix traveled to Berlin to contact Professor Cervos‐Navarro for neuropathology training and I met him at that time. I fondly recall those long days and nights at the Institute of Neuropathology and the short weekend respites provided by concerts at the Berliner Philharmonie and the Deutsche Oper Berlin. In 1986, Felix was awarded a Humboldt scholarship that allowed him to prolong his stay in Germany and carry out some fascinating brain tumor studies and research on cerebral anoxia in cats.
After a stay at the Oxford Radcliffe Infirmary in 1988, Felix returned to Spain and was entrusted by Professor Eduard Tolosa with the formidable task of developing the country's first brain bank at the University of Barcelona. I bore witness to Felix's extraordinary enthusiasm and dedication in those heroic years, during which the continuous support of Professor Tolosa and the practical guidance of Professor Tourtellotte of Los Angeles, California, were of considerable help. In 1993 Felix was certified as a neuropathologist by the Federal Republic of Germany and was awarded a membership in the Royal College of Pathologists of the United Kingdom.
Additionally, he became a project leader for the European Brain Bank Network, further facilitating the establishment of the Neurological Tissue Bank at the University of Barcelona and enhancing the scientific participation of Spanish neuropathologists in a wide variety of international activities. His contributions to the European Confederation of Neuropathological Societies (Euro‐CNS) are similarly to be commended.
In 1996 Professor Cervos‐Navarro, by then back in Barcelona, offered Felix the post of deputy vice chancellor for research at the newly created International University of Catalonia (UIC), a challenge that he took up with his usual mix of unbounded enthusiasm and hard work. Felix played an integral role in organizing the teaching of health sciences at the UIC, where he became Professor of Neurology. His constant teaching and research efforts, focused mainly on dementias and brain tumors were accompanied by the clinical care of neurological patients, an endeavor he never abandoned since his return to Barcelona.
Professor Cruz‐Sanchez was also the inexhaustible engine behind the organization of many scientific meetings, such as the European congresses of neuropathology held in Berlin in 1992 and Barcelona in 1999. His work as secretary and then president of the Spanish Club of Neuropathology resulted in a noticeable strengthening of its international links. He was a member of the editorial boards of Brain Pathology, Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology, and Neuropathology & Applied Neurobiology, among others. Also worth mentioning is his organization of one of the meetings of the Humboldt Association of Spain, where he was appointed as senator for life. However, one of the tributes he most cherished was an honorary PhD degree granted by the University of Tucuman, in his native Argentina.
Recently Felix's health progressively deteriorated, although he characteristically tried to resume his frantic career activities even after life‐threatening episodes. Finally his heart gave way, but his memory will continue to serve as a source of great inspiration for the many among us who enjoyed him as both a friend and a scientist.