Abstract
Cesare Fieschi died on June 17, 2016, in Rome, age 84. He served as full professor in Siena (1969–1978) and then at the SAPIENZA in Rome, where he promptly set up a section of the university neurology unit uniquely dedicated to cerebrovascular diseases. It was de facto the first stroke unit in Italy. The lifetime achievement award granted by the Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism Society has formalized his long-lasting endeavor in the cerebrovascular field. Indeed, he was one of the founders of the society, and a leader in the groundbreaking, international ‘‘blood flow group’’. His pioneer role was deep. In years in which neurology was busy producing uninspired classifications of rare diseases, he meant to translate knowledge of pathophysiology into effective clinical procedures. Ties with eminent laboratories in the US, Seymour Kety and Louis Sokoloff in particular, gave momentum to his innovative efforts. Cesare Fieschi was a positive energy, a beneficial mix of dynamisms, generosity and extraordinary insight. He was an outstanding personality, not immune to contradiction. His innate authoritativeness and self-confidence could coexist in him with friendly and unpretentious manners and with sincere care for social problems.
Francesco Orzi
I still cannot believe that Cesare Fieschi has passed away. Great scientists and innovative leaders such as Professor Cesare Fieschi can build and dominate the history of their life, surviving their short lifetime to become everlasting in our mind and in our heart. Brain and heart interactions were only one of the several interests of this great scientist, who moved into the neurological world with brilliance, elegance and aristocratic gentility. I had the privilege to meet and invite him to several meeting in Padova as he was honorary member of our national neurovascular society and he always gave innovative and fascinating lectures dominating the scene with a natural ability as a professional actor. In fact Professor Cesare Fieschi – as an orchestra leader – was the most powerful figure in Italy, able to handle a modern and innovative approach to cerebrovascular diseases maintaining close and constant connections with the most qualified medical centers in U.S.A. where he was considered highly and much appreciated. I think it has been a great privilege for the neurological community to have the opportunity to meet such a brilliant and innovative scientist.
Professor Cesare Fieschi will be greatly missed; however extraordinary men like him never die, they just fade away and leave a deep positive impact on the scientific paths of future generations.
Giorgio Meneghetti
The world of stroke will never be the same without Cesare Fieschi, who was one of the founders of modern clinical “strokology”. He was actually the first to coin the term “Hyper/ultra Acute Stroke” in his famous angiographic study showing spontaneous recanalization within 6 hours of stroke onset. His contribution to the stroke field is invaluable and he will be missed by the international stroke community that respected and appreciated him so much.
On a personal note, I started my career as a medical student in Siena where the name Fieschi was mentioned with enormous respect.
As a young stroke neurologist I was always impressed by his elegant appearance, eloquent lectures and especially by his warm approach to the young generation. With time I have become a close friend to him and with an international group of other “strokologists” we spent together a wonderful time in various conferences and places where he was always the leader.
Cesare Fieschi, an extraordinary man, a giant, will be missed by the stroke community, especially by his Italians friends and colleagues and by all his friends around the world. His legacy and his fingerprint of the stroke world will stay with us forever.
Natan Bornstein