Colleague remembers Prof. Yasuo Tano

Prof. Yasuo Tano passed away suddenly Jan. 31, at the age of 60, in Osaka, Japan.

Prof. Tano was professor and chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at Osaka University Medical School. He also served as acting president of the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology, past president of the Japanese Ophthalmological Society, treasurer of the International Council of Ophthalmology and president of the Club Jules Gonin.

Prof. Tano was widely honored for his contributions to ophthalmology and vision research. He served on the international editorial boards of many prestigious scientific journals and authored and co-authored more than 350 English-language journal articles. He delivered numerous honorary lectures, including the Jackson Memorial Lecture at the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting and the Pyron Lecture at the Vitreous Society meeting.

Prof. Tano developed numerous innovative techniques and instruments that are widely used for vitreoretinal surgery. He also dedicated his time to training ophthalmologists not only in Japan but throughout the world.

Prof. Tano enjoyed his life with a wonderful family, and he was a loving husband, father and grandfather who will be missed by his many friends around the world. His famous humor and wit created a friendly atmosphere for those he came into contact with,

and he would always do whatever he could to help those around him. His faith never wavered, even when facing life's great challenges. As a mentor, he took care of his students as a father would, with great enthusiasm and consideration, and he praised them following success or offered encouraging, kind words following failure.

Prof. Tano's passing is a shock to us and a tremendous loss to his family, as well as to ophthalmologists and vision researchers all over the world.

Naoyuki Maeda, MD, can be reached at Room J7, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, 565-0871 Japan; 81-6-6879-3456; fax: 81-6-6879-3458; e-mail: nmaeda@ophthal.med.osaka-u.ac.jp