Tribute to Professor Albert De Mey

Our colleague Albert De Mey suddenly left us on Sunday 6 September 2020. The Brugmann Foundation owes him a great debt of gratitude and would like to pay him a heartfelt tribute. Albert had been an active member of the Foundation since its creation in 1985 and it was he who, with the help and support of Daniel Désir and Renaud Witmeur, resurrected it in 2011. He was its treasurer. His proactive involvement made it possible to bring together an eclectic Board of Directors in order to provide a broader vision of the Foundation's missions to the benefit of the scientific projects to which it provides crucial support. Albert started as a trainee at Brugmann in September 1975 and was appointed Head of Clinic, Plastic Surgery, in 1992. His loyalty to the Brugmann University Hospital has been exemplary. Despite busy days he still found time to teach at the Faculty of Medicine of the Université Libre de Bruxelles while holding other professorships in pathology and other surgical techniques. His involvement in numerous scientific societies is endless. He was, among others, President and Secretary of the Royal Belgian Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery. His innumerable publications, communications and books have, without a doubt, helped to advance medicine while bringing Belgium's reputation in plastic surgery far beyond our borders. He was recognised as a leading authority by many of his colleagues at the international level. However, those who knew him well know that this never affected his remarkable modesty and humility. Every year and on his own initiative, he would go on humanitarian missions abroad to intervene, mainly to repair cleft palates and cleft lips in young children. His last trip took him to Burma. Albert was passionate about his work. Passionate about his profession. Passionate about the human being. Fascinated by old cars which he liked to drive because he liked speed, but in complete safety. He also liked good food and good wines, which he liked to share with  many. It was a real happiness to be able to spend such privileged moments with him. Albert was a complete man. He was an example to many of us and we already miss him terribly. Our thoughts are with his wife and three children and we send them our deepest and most sincere condolences.

Board of Directors Brugmann Foundation