24 Nov 2020
Tony Gershlick - A tribute from South Africa
We are deeply saddened by the loss of this man among men, whose contributions to our profession will endure into the future.
On behalf of the whole PCR Community, William Wijns and Jean Fajadet, Chairmen of PCR, extend their condolences upon the loss of Tony Gershlick. Read this tribute to an exceptional teacher and mentor in interventional cardiology by Farrel Hellig and David Kettles.
It was with shock and immense sadness that we learned of Tony’s tragic and untimely passing. We heard of this terrible loss during an African webinar on complex coronary intervention: the very subject that Tony had invested so much in teaching in our country. This man who had taught us so enthusiastically about the subject we all loved, had succumbed to the virus which he was passionately interested in, the virus that spurred on an enormous last research effort from him even in the days before and during what was to be his final illness.
A teacher and a mentor to many
During our conference we took a moment to reflect on what Tony had meant to us: there were multiple colleagues who had personally been mentored by him present in this group of African interventionists. This was indicative of who Tony was: enthusiastic, engaged, and producing results. Never one to just talk, but rather the one to put his head down and do the work. He shared what he knew, always enthusiastically, and crafted opportunities for so many to be engaged, trained, mentored. His influence clearly extended way beyond his home country: we loved him as one of our own.
Dave recalls meeting Tony socially the first time in the foyer of a Johannesburg hotel, some 20 years ago. He had been teaching interventional cardiology with his own engaging style and practical wisdom to a small group in the city. As a relatively inexperienced interventionist at that time, Dave found his teaching utterly captivating. He recalls watching Tony take a 3D right guiding catheter down to the crux of the RCA, before catheter extensions came into vogue, and was in awe.
But then it was time to relax. He discovered a man who loved the saxophone and loved jazz. They spent hours discussing the varying styles of different music teachers, and what it was like playing to an open mic at a Jazz evening for the first time. They discussed at length various approaches to Jazz improvisation. Tony was a keen saxophone player and both Dave and Farrel play sax too.
Tony Gershlick pictured here at EuroPCR 2018 as panellist in a session on "Physiology-guided revascularisation in patients with STEMI and multivessel disease".
When Tony visited Farrel’s home on another of his many visits to South Africa, they spent an entire day playing jazz together and testing all the instruments in Farrel’s vintage sax collection. Farrel loaned him an alto saxophone whilst he was visiting the country as visiting professor for 3 months.
He was one of the annual SASCI (South African Society of Cardiovascular Intervention) visiting professors. He took 3 months out of his busy schedule to relocate to South Africa to teach local fellows: a massive contribution to our cardiovascular community that made a lasting impression on so many.
Our last social contact was minutes after the SA vs England world cup match ended last year. Again, we were in Johannesburg, and Tony was sharing knowledge, helping us build our profession locally. Rugby aficionado as he was, Tony was obviously deeply disappointed by England’s loss. Nevertheless, he remained a good sport, analysing the match with a keen eye for how and why the result came about. In the midst of the defeat, he could celebrate the South African performance with us, joining in our delight in the aspects of the match that resulted South Africa taking the trophy. We shared memes on our cell phones: he wanted to send those poking fun at the England team to his sons for their amusement. He brought humour to all occasions!
The untimely loss of a giant amongst us
The impact of this untimely loss of a giant amongst us is deeply painful. We offer our sincerest condolences to his family, his many friends, and our interventional colleagues, his cardiology family in the United Kingdom. In our South African interventional community Tony was appreciated for his uncluttered, uncomplicated style. His sense of humour made him feel like one of us. He came across as a person who had little time for obstructive bureaucracy. He focused on getting the needed result in the most efficient way possible. He visited us many times and there was always his willingness to go the extra mile. He taught our junior interventionists so much. We can never forget his contributions.
We miss him already. We are deeply saddened by the loss of this man among men, this icon: a man who professionally we all could look up to, and yet one in whose presence you never felt looked down upon. Our memories will remain fresh and bring comfort: his contributions to our profession will endure into the future.
Farrel Hellig, on behalf of Africa PCR Board and community
David Kettles, on behalf of SASCI community
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