Date: November 3, 2012
TO: All members of the WABIP
RE: Sadness regarding the death of Christian Bolliger MD, PhD

Dear members of the WABIP

On behalf of the executive board of the WABIP, I wish to inform you of the unfortunate passing of our friend and colleague Dr. Chris Bolliger, who died suddenly at his home on Friday, November 2.

Chris was the Editor-in-Chief of the journal Respiration (official journal of the EABIP and an official journal of the WABIP), immediate-past President of the European Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology, and Professor of Medicine/Cochairman of the Department of Pulmonary Medicine at the University of Stellenbosch in Cape town, South Africa, where he was also director of the Respiratory Research Unit. Dr. Bolliger graduated from medical school in 1976.

On a personal note, I have known Chris for 22 years. He was a dear friend and an inspiring leader. While his professional accomplishments were many, I know his greatest pride was his family. Chris is survived by his wife and three children: he spoke of them always with love and admiration.

Dr. Bolliger’s career encompassed work in Europe and South Africa. A well-known and respected member of the interventional pulmonology and pulmonary community, Chris was an active teacher and researcher with leadership activities around the world. I am sure I can speak for all those who knew him or knew of him, in saying that we shall greatly miss his honesty, knowledge, forthrightness, technical expertise, intellectual curiosity, energy and tremendous can-do attitude.

Presented with grief and sadness,