The death of Professor Marcus Maurer is a profound loss to everyone in the HAE community, whether they are a scientist, patient, or caregiver. His dedication to improving the lives of people with angioedema was total. However, despite touching countless lives through his work, there will be many people who never met or interacted with him. Here, we try to show a little more of Marcus’ character by sharing personal reflections and anecdotes from those who knew him best.

For our own part, the editorial team interacted with Marcus on numerous occasions. He was always a great interviewee, offering lively quotes. However, it is his almost limitless energy that we remember most. In 30 years of attending scientific conferences, we had never seen a clinical expert leap on and off the stage during presentations, until seeing Prof. Maurer in action.

Henrik Balle Boysen
Marcus was an incredible person and a truly warm-hearted friend you could always count on. His interpersonal skills were remarkable, and he made sure to include everyone in everything he did. But beyond his kindness, Marcus was defined by his unwavering determination to “Never Give Up!” I remember our interactions as he traveled to our recent regional conference in Panama. With strikes across Europe canceling flights left and right, most would have called it quits. Not Marcus. He embarked on a long car ride, caught a train, and navigated through several connecting flights. Though delayed by nearly 20 hours, he arrived just in time to participate, a testament to his perseverance. The loss of Marcus is beyond words, and he will be deeply missed. Rest in peace, my friend.

Tony Castaldo
The HAEi community has always known that our Chief Medical Advisor Prof. Marcus Maurer possessed a set of extraordinary talents. A recent experience prompted me to add ‘magician’ to his amazing legacy. Not long before I was due to go on stage at the 2024 HAEi Regional Conference Americas, the hotel front desk called to say the laundry contractor could not locate the jacket I had sent to be cleaned. As I got a microphone fitted right before going on stage, Marcus apparently overheard me telling the sound technician how I like wearing a jacket when on stage and couldn’t this time because the hotel had somehow lost it.

Marcus came over to me and said, ‘Don’t worry, gotcha covered.’ I offered a smile acknowledging the kind thought, but was already in my own world anticipating how I would deal with being on stage feeling incompletely dressed.

A few moments later, I started my talk and made a quick joke about my missing jacket. Then, I heard a familiar, but totally unexpected voice stop the show. It was Marcus saying, ‘Hold on, Tony, I have something you were looking for!’ He proceeded to jump on the stage with my jacket and with great fanfare helped me put it on.

Right after my talk, I stopped by the front desk to thank the people I had spoken to earlier for locating my jacket. They just stared at me while I spoke and finally said, ‘Sir, our vendor is still looking for your jacket, which is still showing as lost in our system.’ I walked away chuckling and thinking… is there anything the amazing Marcus Maurer can’t accomplish? And here is the kicker! I was so mesmerized by the “magic” of the moment, I had no desire to ask how or where he found that jacket.

Prof. Marc Reidl
Marcus always greeted people with a warm smile. He had a remarkable ability to make everyone feel they were now ‘among friends’ even if he was meeting you for the first time. I remember a familiar look Marcus would give when he knew something you didn’t know. I saw that look a lot and it meant he was about to share something important, interesting, or clever. Marcus was the consummate teacher and collaborator, but above all, a wonderful friend. He will be deeply missed.

Prof. Markus Magerl
Marcus, Thomas, and I recently wanted to run an angioedema school in India. Marcus and Thomas traveled together from Berlin and we were to meet up in India. Unfortunately, they got stuck in Istanbul and couldn’t get any further.

The angioedema school took place anyway because they spontaneously recorded all their presentations and contributions on video at the airport in Istanbul and sent them to the organizers. Their contributions, totaling several hours, were available just in time for the event’s start. Marcus was a master at solving small and large problems quickly and in the best possible way. Canceling the event would have been out of the question for him. Never give up!

Prof. Konrad Bork
We mourn the loss of Prof. Marcus Maurer, who died before his time. He was taken from us by a tragic and unbelievable fate. We miss Marcus. We miss our friend with his drive and his cheerful, beaming personality. For many years he was full of ideas, plans, and projects. No one can fill his place.

Everyone felt his vital magnetism when he spoke privately or publicly about his new projects. His natural kindness and his ever-present energy enabled him to involve a large number of people and scientists in his projects. We will miss his inspiration and enthusiasm. Marcus brought our community closer together, more than ever before, for the sake of the patients with recurrent angioedema.

Condolences and further memories
All at Global Perspectives, and the wider HAEi team, would like to extend their sympathy to Professor Maurer’s family and friends. A book of condolences can be viewed and signed at marcus-maurer.com