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The Parkinson afflicted lost one of the greatest contributors to the reduction of their suffering. Professor Dr. Walther Birkmayer passed away last week in Vienna, Austria at the age of 86. There is no Parkinson versed neurologist anywhere in the world unfamiliar with Dr. Birkmayer's achievements and contributions as well as his constant effort to alleviate the effects caused by this disorder. He wrote more than 12 books and close to 400 scientific publications on the subject. Personally, I made his acquaintance in 1972, two years after my wife's Parkinson was diagnosed at Leahy Clinic in Boston. Thanks to Dr. Birkmayer's treatment she could promenade arm in arm with him on a Danube river passenger boat in 1990 which was chartered for the celebration of his 80th birthday. At his birthday party, which coincided with the annual meeting of the International Parkinson Foundation, he was honoured by the President of Austria with the highest decoration for civilians. Also many of his peers expressed their admiration for his achievements and we were proud to present him with a special plaque commissioned for this occasion by the Parkinson Foundation of Canada. It was Professor Birkmayer who first dispensed Selegiline (known to us as Deprenyl or Eldepryl; originally in Hungary as Jumex) in 1973 to his patients and established its benefit for Parkinson sufferers. This was just one of the new specialty drug introductions originated by Dr. Birkmayer - the list is long and varied. He was always prepared to experiment for the sake of his patients and their welfare but even more so was always ready with his pen to produce a drawing for his patient to explain the cause of Parkinson. He lectured all over the world and was constantly called upon to treat world leaders afflicted with Parkinson, resulting in many trips to China and the erstwhile Soviet Union among many others. The Parkinson suffering world has lost one of its greatest researchers and practitioners and I have lost a very good friend to whom I shall be eternally grateful for keeping my wife in such good physical condition for more than 26 years since the first diagnosis. Rest in peace Walther - we shall always remember. Dr. Fred Mann