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Remembering a Dear Friend and Colleague

2006; Elsevier BV; Volume: 9; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/j.1525-1403.2006.00058.x

1525-1403

Elliot S. Krames,

History of Medical Practice

I have lost a true and great friend. Writing this eulogy for such a man as John Oakley does not belong to one person, for John Oakley was a friend, a colleague, and a mentor to many from all over our planet. But for me, John was not only a friend and mentor, but also a model of how I want to be perceived in this world. John was a model of DOING, of love, passion, intelligence, quick wit, ethics, loyalty, and caring. John was a human’s human. I will miss him terribly. So will his family, his friends, his colleagues, and the wide, wide world in which John chose to participate. John Oakley died at the very tender age of 60 on April 17, 2006. He was born January 11, 1946, in Seattle, Washington. John was the second child of a family of six children. He was the son of and is survived by Donald and Beulah Oakley. He is survived by brothers Robert and Steve and sisters Nancy Manning, Sally Sheehan, and Donna Oakley. John is survived by his wife, Shirley; his sons John, Jr., and Peter; his daughter, Rebekah; and his grandchildren, John Christian, age 9, Alan, age 5, and Anna, just 3 days old. According to his wife, Shirley, whom he married on June 20, 1969, John’s first passion was history and religion and he wanted to pursue either a career as a minister in the Lutheran church or a career as a professor of history. John began his college education at the University of Washington in 1964, but finished his college education at Pacific Lutheran University in 1968, where he graduated, magna cum laude. But as many human stories go, and as luck has it for all of us, John did not choose to pursue a career in either the ministry or history; he chose medicine. After medical school training at the University of Washington in Seattle, where he graduated from in 1972, John interned at Cincinnati General Hospital and completed his residency training in neurosurgery at the University of Washington. After completion of his neurosurgical training, John started his career at the National Institutes of Health before becoming a professor of neurosurgery under the tutelage of Phillip Weinstein, chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Arizona, where John spent 2 years. After Arizona, John chose to come back to Seattle, Washington, the place of his birth, and spent the next 17 years in the private practice of neurosurgical medicine at Northwestern Hospital in Seattle. John then moved to Billings, Montana, where he joined the practice of Yellowstone Neurosurgical Associates. John came to Billings, Montana to provide the local community and the Montana community at large his expertise in pain medicine and neuromodulation. He started an interdisciplinary pain care practice associated with Yellowstone Neurosurgical Associates and St. Vincent Hospital. John, an avid pilot, used his expertise in flying to establish multiple outreach clinics for pain medicine around the state and established pain clinics for the multiple Indian reservations around Montana. Having been a participant in a memorial service to John in Billings, Montana soon after his death, I realized how important John was to that community and how big a hole he left by his passing. Person after person related how much John had brought to the community and how they feared that no person would be able to replace him. Not a dry eye in the church! I first met John Oakley in 1992 when he, Marshall Bedder, presently a pain physician in Florida, and I started the first physician training courses for Medtronic in the United States. When I first met him, I realized, immediately, that John would have a major impact on my life. I loved to talk to him about history, philosophy, religion, medicine, politics, and neuromodulation. I loved to hear him. I loved him, the man! John and his wife, Shirley, and my wife, Rosellen, became quite close friends. We traveled the world together and shared life. I last saw John two weeks before he died. We were both invited to educate the physicians of the Canadian Neuromodulation Interest Group. I cherish that weekend. John and I, both having an interest in the wines of the world, drank and toasted the wine that we shared, shared memories, talked of our wives and families, spoke of our practices, the good and the bad, discussed religion and spirit, discussed, at length, the future of the foundations and societies that we both are active in, and just bonded. I cherish that weekend! Two weeks later, doing what he loved with a passion, John was killed flying his private plane to meet friends for a golf outing. John was a veteran and careful pilot, but, as fate had it, he was suddenly confronted with an early spring storm over the Wasatch Range of Utah. The storm won and we lost! John is in the arms of the God that he worshiped and loved. John was a fine and caring neurosurgeon, a model pain doctor, and a human’s human. John, because of his passion for doing, was the author of numerous published articles. He traveled the world to educate all of us in the fields of neurosurgery, neurophysiology, neuromodulation, the philosophy of science, pain and spirituality, and religion. John, a deeply religious person, was a Bible scholar, and as I heard two of his Ministers relate it, a truly gifted Minister of the “WORD.” John served his university as regent for many years, served on the boards of his churches, served as President of the North American Neuromodulation Society, President of the Western Neurosurgical Society, served on the Board of the National Pain Foundation and served as consultant for most of the device companies that produce the devices that we use in our field. A blessing that John Oakley lived his life by: May the syllables draw holiness from your heart, and may this Holiness be gentle and soothing to you and all God’s creatures.May your study be passionate and meanings bear more meanings until Life itself arrays itself to you as a dazzling wedding feast.And may your conversation, even of the commonplace, be a Blessing to all who listen to your words and see the Torah glowing on your face.—Danny Siegel So this brings me back to the beginning of this eulogy to John Oakley. The task of eulogizing such a giant of a person, this human’s human, should not be left to one person. I have asked friends and colleagues from around the world to share their thoughts and memories of John. What follows is a COLLAGE OF LOVE to John. Goodbye, JOHN; we will never forget your contributions to all of us. We will never forget YOU! Elliot Krames The National Pain Foundation (NPF) suffered a heartbreaking tragedy this past week with the news of the death of one of our most respected and admired Board members—Dr. John Oakley. John’s compassion and understanding of the challenges faced by people in pain has been a guiding light for the NPF since its inception in 1998. John’s early advice to conduct a series of focus groups to identify the challenges of people in pain served as a cornerstone of establishing the mission for the NPF and solidified the Foundation’s commitment to serve the patient’s needs first and foremost. When John spoke, everyone listened. His gentle, yet profound, insights, wisdom, and spirit will forever serve as a guidepost as we continue to move the mission of the NPF forward. Our sincere sympathies and appreciation go out to John’s beloved wife, Shirley, who so graciously shared John’s time with the NPF these past eight years. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts, Shirley, for this tremendous gift. John’s spirit will always be held in the forefront of the NPF as we continue to serve the needs of people in pain. He will never be forgotten and will always be greatly missed. Mary Pat Aardrup, Executive Director The National Pain Foundation John, Your smile, warmth, laugh, curiosity, intellect, energy, focus, charm, friendship, compassion, faith, family, and inner strength have blessed and strengthened us on Earth; your Heavenly mission now takes flight on the wings of angels, the Father, your copilot. … Your legacy forever etched in our hearts and souls; your life, our inspiration. Ken, Kim, Nicholas, Christopher, Connor, Cameron, and Katelyn Aló Here are four words that describe John: A scholar, a renaissance man, a true gentleman, and one of the most compassionate and dedicated doctors I have ever met. Giancarlo Barolat, Neurosurgeon Past President, International Neuromodulation Society (INS) I first met Dr. John Oakley in 2001. As I came to know him as a colleague and collaborator, I felt there were two basic elements of his personality that best characterized him: humility and patience. These qualities made him well-suited to practice in the challenging field of pain management. They also made him a terrific teacher. He would answer any question, no matter how naïve, from his deep knowledge of the literature and, more valuably, his own experience. With his patient manner and wisdom, John gave me insights into neurostimulation that no other source could provide. With his passing, I feel the world of neuromodulation has lost a father figure, a skilled practitioner, and passionate advocate. And I have lost a teacher and a friend. Kerry Bradley, Engineer, Advanced Bionics John was renowned as an expert in Pain Medicine and Pain Surgery. He also was a neurosurgeon. In fact, John was one of my first neurosurgical mentors; he was my Chief Resident when I was starting out in training at the University of Washington, at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Long before either of us knew our careers would later converge on the area of Pain Surgery, he taught me the basics of neurosurgery. The first time I met Shirley, John invited me over to their house for dinner, where two small boys were acting their age. It was the sort of kindness that typified John, taking pity in a clueless Junior Resident. I knew John for almost 30 years, but will never forget those early times. He was a remarkable man. I will miss him, and never forget him. Kim J. Burchiel, MD, FACS, John Raaf Professor and Chairman Department of Neurological Surgery Professor, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon Much has been said and written about Dr. Oakley as a result of his tragic accident. Words, however, could never adequately express how good this man truly was and how much of a positive impact he made on so many. We knew Dr. Oakley as a caring physician, researcher, teacher, and neuromodulation visionary. We also knew him as a man of great balance in his more important roles as husband, father, and friend. Dr. Oakley was a giant, and his loss has left a great void. He made life better for all who knew him, and his great work and influence will live on forever as an inspiration to us all. We are grateful and blessed for having known Dr. Oakley and for having had the privilege to call him friend. We will miss him; we will never forget him; and we will strive to be all that he inspired us to be. Chris Chavez, CEO, Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Having known John Oakley for several years through the National Pain Foundation board, I was always impressed with John’s passion for life and his interests. On the NPF board he was a thoughtful contributor who added to the collective knowledge and direction of the board. I had the pleasure to join John and Dave Nielson at Dave’s golf club in Evergreen, Colorado, and saw that John also was passionate about his golf game, bringing the neurosurgeon’s precision to that skill sport. We will all miss the intelligence and energy that John brought to everything he was engaged in. Cully Culbreth, Board Member, National Pain Foundation (NPF) I can’t even begin to put words to the loss that I feel. Although I have known John for a relatively short period of time, he has made a profound impact on me and what I do every day. I wish I had the opportunity to tell him that. If I could, I would say, “You asked me the questions for which there were no easy answers; you asked me to look beyond what I knew and was comfortable with; you asked me to look for the most important thing, and every time I ask a question I will think of you.” Annamarie Daniels, Advanced Bionics John and I had the opportunity to have dinner a few months ago. We were discussing an illness of a close friend and how it had made us give thought to our priorities. John pointed out to me that as he aged he realized the only true things that mattered were family, friends, and his personal relationship with God. John was truly a great doctor, but more importantly a great person. Tim Deer, Pain Physician Board Member, North American Neuromodulation Society (NANS) I am shocked by John Oakley’s death. When I received an e-mail regarding John’s death I thought to myself: “I don’t know a guy called John, except for John Oakley.” I was unable to connect my thoughts of John Oakley to a person who had died; it just could not be possible. Later, I was informed that it really was the John I knew and that he had died in a plane crash. Then all of a sudden I once again was confronted with our mortality. I went through the pictures I had taken during one of our INS board meetings that John had participated in and it appeared to me that John was a person who was too modest to show his face or even his body to my camera. This is what I will miss most; John Oakley was always nice and thoughtful, which you noticed specifically when the moment had passed. I am happy I shared more than one moment with John and I wish for his family strength at this time of his passing. Mike JL DeJongste, MD, Cardiologist University of Groningen, The Netherlands Past Secretary and Treasurer, INS John Oakley was an adventurer. He loved a challenge. He loved a new perspective. He loved the world around him and the people in it. He loved making sense of things, and he strove to make the world a better place. I met John in Flagstaff at the Museum of Northern Arizona in the summer of 1964. I was 19; he was 18, just graduated from Evergreen High School. We were students in a summer science camp, one of the ones set up in the Sputnik era to prepare Americans to catch up with the “Russians.” We were studying atmospheric physics with Vince Schaefer, who had discovered cloud seeding. John was one of the smartest people I had ever met. Forty-two years later that assessment has not changed. He entered into high-level discussions with visiting scientists, questioning them for hours on hypotheses, evidence, research design, and conclusions. John might well have become a physicist, discovered some remote secret of the universe locked in a mathematical relationship or in a rock from the moon. He might have become an astronaut and gone to collect that rock himself. He was made of the right stuff. Instead he chose medicine, where he could combine science and service. As a physician, John personified the highest ideals of the medical profession, scientist and humanist. On the wall of my office—all the offices I’ve had since 1976—is a photomicrograph of dentritic neurons that he took when he was at the NIH. On the back he inscribed, “In our quest for human understanding, let us not forget the fundamental elements.” Medicine, as we all know, faced new challenges in the late twentieth century. Not the least among them were economic challenges. When the State of Washington stopped paying for pain services, John analyzed data and challenged state policy, with the result that Washington Medicaid reassessed and reinstated its reimbursement practices for pain management. John was a family man, a church man, a loyal friend, a devoted physician, a good citizen of the communities he was a part of. He was a kind man. He transformed the world for the better. John was an adventurer, and for this we loved him. We shall miss him, but his spirit will live on. It will be an inspiration to us as we carry on our own work, inspired by his example. His life was gentle, and the elements So mixed in him that Nature might stand up And say to all the world, “This was a man!” (William Shakespeare) Allen R. Dyer, MD, PhD Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences East Tennessee State University Board of Clinical Advisors, NPF I was honored to know John as a dear friend and colleague. Almost every time we met, our conversations often focused on the career of his son, especially when he was in medical school. We enjoyed a common interest because his son was conducting basic research in my area of interest, which is neurophysiology. John was very enthusiastic about the research and was very excited about the results of the studies. I will always remember his broad grin and gracious attitude. Indeed he was a dear friend and colleague. Robert Foreman, PhD Chairman and Professor, Department of Physiology, University of Oklahoma Treasurer, INS, Board Member, NANS John was a man for all seasons, a proud father and husband. Best known professionally as a pioneer in neuromodulation, he conceptualized a much broader scope of his work in Society and for patients in pain. He was devoted to public health and worked tirelessly to create new systems of care, teams of primary care providers, and specialists to provide the best pain treatment to all members of our society. Particularly sensitive to the needs of people with geographic, socioeconomic, and cultural disadvantages in access to quality care, he believed strongly in empowering patients through information and dedicated his time, intellect, energy, and friendship to the mission of the National Pain Foundation on behalf of all patients. His was an inquiring, probing intellect—at our last meeting, in Sidney, Australia, we discussed the anticipated bird flu pandemic in light of historical socioeconomic and political conditions that led to the 1918 pandemic, and he gave me a book on the subject—which I promptly read. He shared his love and life of the wide open spaces—a skier and pilot of the big sky, an inspiring life for us all. Mac Gallagher, Past President, American Board of Pain Medicine Co-chairperson, National Pain Foundation (NPF) Editor-in-Chief, Pain Medicine Although I only knew John through our work for the National Pain Foundation, in this short period of time I was impressed and touched by his kindness, his generosity, his true caring for the well-being of his patients, and his obvious spiritual soul. We and the field of caring for patients in pain will sorely miss him. Lucky Gallagher Board of Clinical Advisors, NPF Rarely does one have the honor to know and to have had the opportunity to work and teach with a man like John Oakley. He was a true gentleman who emanated unquestionable class and sincere dedication. My life is richer from knowing John, both as a friend and colleague. He taught me much of what I use in clinical practice in neuromodulation. He was a true healer, researcher, teacher, and gifted physician. I will miss him profoundly. My love goes to Shirley and his family, his coworkers and his patients. I know he is smiling from above to all of his loved ones, and proud of what he accomplished. James Hagen, MS Co-founder, National Pain Foundation Board of Clinical Directors, NPF Denver He was a great contributor to the advancement of scholarly activity in the field of neuromodulation, and the loss will be felt for many years to come. Mark Hahn Past President American Academy of Pain Medicine, AAPM Of the many, many qualities of John, I was most impressed that he was one of the most devout spiritual people I’ve ever met and he was a scholar of Bible knowledge—especially the New Testament. In many ways, he had functioned over many years as a lay minister in various churches. Sam Hassenbusch Past President, NANS, AAPM To Shirley, John’s memory will always be treasured by me and the many, many people who met him. Always kind, always generous, always loving and Christian, in the best sense of that word. I have attached a short piece from Native Americans that helps us to accept the new reality. John was a very bright man, and contributed in critically important ways to bringing new therapies and hope to pain patients. I had the pleasure to work with him on three projects, and you recall the transverse tripole study. The manuscript of the final results of that work was accepted recently in Neuromodulation. His analysis of the data was “right on,” and he wrote a discussion that really helps to pull the most important findings from the article. John was always open to discussing new ideas, and fervently wanted the development of better therapies for patients. He was a philosopher-physician, in the best sense. I consider him to have been in the top two or three on this planet in terms of proposing and testing new ideas, and helping us all make progress with neuromodulation therapies. His insight and thoughts will be deeply missed by all. The Native Americans talk about three parts of a person’s life. One, when they walk the earth. One, when they have died, but people remain who met them, and were influenced by them. And then one, when the last person has passed who knew them, and their spirit is free to rejoin the earth. I have nothing but good thoughts about John and his work. For a few years yet, we’ll be saying, “John Oakley said that … He wrote that … He believed that …” So his legacy is and will remain large. I and Glen are so very, very, very sorry for your great loss, and that of your family. We shall have you in our hearts and prayers, and shall remember John most fondly. Peace, Gary King Sr. Principal Scientist Medtronic, Neurological John: Among your many legacies is a warmth of smile, a kindness, and an integrity that few can match. You leave behind, in your huge footprints, family and friends who yearn to reconnect with you. The Lord has taken the best from us. We can only imagine the plan he has for you in the future. Don Kramer Hearing about John reminds me again that life is short and each day must be meaningful. I think for John it was. I used to sit next to him at most meetings and share thoughts on God, life, and religious archeology. He loved to read these kinds of journals and I found him fascinating way beyond his field of occupational choice. I do believe he lived the life within him that he wanted and lived it with bold freedom in the sufficiency of Christ. Michael Loes, Pain Physician, Arizona Board of Clinical Advisors, NPF Devoted to patient care, considerate, serious but able to enjoy life, enthusiastic about helping others. He was a good resident in his youth. Loyal. John D. Loeser, MD Department of Neurological Surgery University of Washington Past President, IASP The loss of John Oakley is a great loss for everyone. John was a very dedicated and very human doctor and a great man who dedicated his life to improving the quality of life of others. Al Mann, Inventor, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist This is a tragic loss to the many lives that John has touched. John Oakley was truly a wonderful man. He was so accomplished yet had such humility. He was extremely generous and was a great friend and mentor to our program. He will be greatly missed by all of us. Bill McDonald, Pain Physician, Vancouver, Canada There is so much that could be said about John. He was accomplished and world-renowned; yet he was such a humble and gentle man. He was a teacher and researcher; yet he never lost sight of being a healer. He will be greatly missed. Alan Mock, Vice President, Marketing Advanced Neuromodulation Systems I first met John Oakley as part of a strategic planning process I was facilitating for the NPF about four years ago. I worked with him and had the good fortune to play golf once with him. I was immediately impressed with this “gentle” man. Impressed with his gentleness but in light of that, the tremendous quiet influence and power he demonstrated. His knowledge, competence, and experience can best be addressed by others more knowledgeable than I. I saw him as a man of great passion, wisdom, and a true leader in any group of which he was a part. Finally, he was an exceptionally interesting man with many facets to his personality—his great knowledge of wine, his new found love of golf, an accomplished pilot, and he had a great sense of humor. In short, he was a truly amazing man. I learned from him and was impacted by him. I know I’m a better person for having known him and I know I will miss him. David Nielson, Board Member, NPF We are deeply saddened by the loss of our friend and colleague, Dr. John Oakley. John was a pioneer in the field of neuromodulation. He was one of the earliest implanters and continued to perform cutting-edge work in the field for almost three decades. He was truly a giant in the field as a clinician, teacher, researcher, and mentor to many of us. He was the second president of our society and under his leadership the field of neuromodulation made great strides. We will miss him dearly. As news of this tragedy spread yesterday, as I spoke with his friends from across the country, the sense of loss was immense. Deeply saddened does not adequately describe our feelings. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his wife, Shirley, and his family. Joshua Prager, MD, MS President, North American Neuromodulation Society He said what he did and did what he said. Sadly, he will be missed. He was a good friend. With utmost respect, Ralph Rashbaum, MD, Orthopedic Spine Surgeon, Texas Dear friends, Now that John is not with us in the physical sense, he is with all of us who have considered him as a trusted friend. He is one of those who always look you straight in the eyes; you just knew that you could trust him. What a pleasure to have worked with him in the NPF and so many other places. Somehow the void that he left has to be filled with us keeping him alive in our memories. For all the good he has done, he must be in heaven. John—Thanks for the memories. Gabor Racz, Pain Physician Chairman Emeritus, Department of Anesthesia, Texas Tech University Board Member of the World Institute of Pain Board of Clinical Advisors, NPF I personally believe that our mission in life is to learn to love unconditionally, and to share that love with the world by doing whatever we can to help our fellow man and the earth. John, to me, was a living example of those goals. His love of this world, of life, and of his fellow mankind showed in all that he did. He never worried about his ego and the reward he would get from things he did. Rather, he focused on others and their needs and how to help them with their problems. He never refused anyone help of whatever he could offer, no matter who they are. His sense of honesty and integrity were demonstrated to me during a “wine exchange.” I had the good fortune to acquire some wine rated at 100 out of 100. A rarity, indeed. John wanted a bottle and we agreed to exchange one of his wines for one of mine. I am not as knowledgeable about wine as John, and apparently the value of my wine went up significantly before we made the trade. When the trading day finally arrived at a medical meeting, John insisted on presenting me with two bottles of his wine for the one bottle of mine, because that would be a more equitable trade. I would never have known the difference, but John’s character was such to stay honest with me, in spite of my ignorance. That incident characterized for me the way that John cared for all of us. I will miss him immensely. He was a rare and beautiful person. Bert Ray, Chairperson, National Pain Foundation Past President, AAPM John: I will miss you. You now know the truth, the secret of life. The big secret! Enrique Reig, MD Past President, Spanish Pain Society Past Board Member, INS I am astonished by the notice of John Oakley’s death. But, life is not always the way we had planned for it. John, at least, while his family and friends remain on this Earth, is in heaven. For sure! John’s memory will be with us forever. Francisco J. Robaina, MD Neurosurgeon and Pain Physician, Canary Islands, Spain John was a major player in his chosen field. He had the powerful combination of great enthusiasm and good judgment and was widely respected for this. He was knowledgeable, helpful, and was a very nice man. This has come as a huge shock and he will be sorely missed. Brian Simpson, Neurosurgeon, Cardiff, UK Past President, INS At the many conferences we attended, Dr. John Oakley would always swing by and keep me company at the INS exhibit. Sometimes he’d insist that I needed a break, and take me out to lunch. The last time he did this was in Sydney last August; what we thought would be a quick lunch ended up being a rather long lunch (thanks to a slow kitchen) on Darling Harbor. I didn’t tell John this, but I was thankful for the slow service, because I’d been enjoying our conversation and his company so much. With a beaming smile on his face for much of our visit, John spoke of Shirley, their kids and grandkids, the Sydney Opera House (which he had just toured), the future of neuromodulation, his practice, and his passion for flying. I was honored that John opened himself and expressed so much to me … and I felt that I had a true friend in him. As a friend, John’s bright, kind, and humble spirit has inspired me to follow his example and approach life the way he did—with open arms. I know John must have had this effect on everyone he met; and like everyone who had the great fortune of meeting him, I will remember John always. Tia Sofatzis Executive Director, INS I did not know John for very long or very well but I very much looked forward to working with him on the spirituality task force for NPF. My brief encounters with him were always warm and welcoming and nonjudgmental and I suspect that, over time, we would have become good friends and might well have learned much from each other. I will miss that opportunity but am glad to see the warm response from everyone. It reminds me, once again, what a very special group of people we have been blessed with at NPF. Let’s give him and his family our very best response. Richard Stieg, Pain Physician Past President, AAPM Vice Chairman, NPF Board of Clinical Advisors, Board of the NPF Dr. Oakley, professionally, set the standard for a pain physician. His overriding objective was to do what was best for his patients. This was reflected in his work ethic. He continually pushed to understand everything that could be learned to improve the outcomes of his patients. Often, he led these efforts. Dr. Oakley was not one to sit on the sidelines. His ethics, intellect, and the application of these abilities were inspiring. It was amazing the command he had on studies for pain and their implications. What was even more amazing was his knowledge of every topic you would discuss with him. You could discuss the engineering design of a product, the design tradeoffs, and he would immediately see the clinical impact. My first interaction with Dr. Oakley was a professional one, as a leading pain physician. However, regardless of how great he was as a physician, he was an even greater person. Countless times he found time to be there for you as a friend. A key to how he led his life was his faith. Multiple times we had the opportunity to discuss his faith and the impact it had upon him. As a Christian, he led by example. You can’t talk about John Oakley without mentioning this guiding principle of his life. While his professional knowledge and expertise will be missed, it is his friendship and warmth that will be missed the most. Individuals mark their lives by different milestones. One is the significant people with which they have interacted and more specifically their friends. It is with great pleasure that I can say that John Oakley, MD, was a friend of mine. Jim Thacker, Manager of Clinical Field Engineering Advanced Bionics Probably, the quality of my English will not be enough to express my feelings, but I can definitely say that “John was one of the kind,” and we are all going to miss him! Mauro Vendrami, AMS, Italia Few neurosurgeons practice, let alone emphasize, chronic pain as central to their profession. Inherently it does not provide immediate gratification, which dominates the personas most within our trade. John was the exception, a neurosurgical pioneer who challenged our conventional wisdom. He encouraged us not to ignore, brought comfort to those anguished, created science and technology, and was my colleague and friend. His stature on so many levels reflects a loss not only of neurosurgery but also mankind; a legacy reflected through medical industry, research, and education, as well as every physician and patient who bettered through his consul and care. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and mentor. JoAnn and I will miss him dearly. God bless Shirley and the Oakley family. Benjamin H. Venger, MD, FACS The Nevada NeuroSciences Institute Las Vegas, Nevada John Oakley’s untimely death has opened up feelings of loss and despair reserved for one’s own family. And so I have realized how close we had grown in our friendship and professional endeavors through the years. We shared a number of similarities: both neurosurgeons interested in neuromodulation, both inveterate tinkerers trying to devise new and improved methods to treat our patients in chronic pain, both pilots, and both dreamers for a better future. So, John, I will continue our shared vision always knowing you are there with us. Richard L. Weiner, MD Neurosurgeon, Texas John Oakley was that rare individual who was truly a gift to us all. His efforts, care, compassion, and his constant pursuit of the truth in all areas of life have tremendously influenced us all, and will continue to benefit the lives of countless patients for many years to come. I sat with him during many of the presentations on Neuromodulation at the AAPM in San Diego this year, and his parting words to me were these: “Keep at it. We all still have so much to learn.” John was truly a great physician, a great teacher and educator, and a great man. He will be missed by us all. Tom Yearwood, Pain Doctor Alabama This man meant the world to me. The world has lost a great but gentle man. God bless him, Jackie Yost, Administrative Assistant to Scott Drees Advanced Neuromodulation Systems (ANS)