He was born on 23 September 1956 and grew up in Emmarentia, Johannesburg, attending Emmarentia Primary School and Greenside High School. He was in Germany receiving treatment for pancreatic cancer. Sources: Wits University archives, The Star Tribune Steven Blend (1956-2022)Д«usinessman and cycling enthusiast, Steven Blend (BCom, BAcc 1982) passed away at the age of 65, a few weeks after his son's wedding on 11 April 2022. He is survived by his wife, sister, Maureen three children, their spouses and grandchildren. This suggests that the key ingredients for realising the potential of talented students is not necessarily high-technology laboratories or fancy facilities where there are dedicated and serious teachers dedicated to hands-on medical education, the seeds of greatness will grow.вЂќ

However, in my opinion, these unique accomplishments reflect in large part the superb clinical training and the commitment to education of the teaching staff at Wits Medical SchoolвЂ™s affiliated paediatric units. вЂњIt is not possible to separate the roles of seed and the soil in contributing to this impressive list of achievements. In 2004, he wrote in Pediatrics, about the incredible contributions made by Wits-trained physicians in the United States. He was a loyal Witsie, serving on the SRC in 1956/1957. Among his many honours include the National FoundationвЂ™s Joseph D Early Award in 1997 the America Medical AssociationвЂ™s Abraham Jacobi Memorial Award in 2001 Senior Section, American Academy of Paediatrics Child Advocacy Award in 2012. Despite many awards, honours, and leadership positions, Professor Gilchrist was described as вЂњa humble leader and mentor he asked to be remembered as a good guy and 'an honest brokerвЂќ. He was a founding board member of Reach Out and Read MN and volunteered in the Little Earth community, helping children learn to read. After retirement, he and Toni moved to Minneapolis. Professor Gilchrist met his wife, Toni Besset in 1967, on a flight from Houston to Los Angeles where they connected over the novel The Spy Who Came in from the Cold. He also played significant roles in the activities of the ChildrenвЂ™s Cancer Group, was a director of the ABP, and a member of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Residency Review Committee for Paediatrics. He chaired the National Childhood Cancer FoundationвЂ™s Medical Advisory Committee, the American Board of Paediatrics (ABP) Sub Board of Paediatric Haematology-Oncology, the American Academy of Paediatric section on Haematology/Oncology, and its Council on Sections. From 1981 to 2000, he directed the Mayo Comprehensive Haemophilia Centre. He served as Helen C Levitt Professor for 12 years, and chair of paediatric and adolescent medicine at Mayo Clinic and Mayo Medical School.

He was born in Springs, in the east of Johannesburg and graduated from Wits in 1957. Paediatric haematologist-oncologist Professor Gerald вЂњGerryвЂќ Gilchrist (MBBCh 1957) passed away in his home in Minneapolis, US on 10 April 2022.

Diane webber posing on horse