A Tribute to Dr. Hugo Moser
Dr. Moser's passing is a profound loss for all who had the privilege of working with this great man. As anyone who knew him could attest, he was far more than a dedicated faculty member at Kennedy Krieger; he was a friend and mentor to us all.
If you'd like to share your thoughts, comments or other memories about Dr. Moser, please use the email link below so that they can be posted on this tribute page.
10/23/07
"Dr Moser was a tremendous support to my mother who lost both her sons to ALD. The fact that she lived in South Africa was no barrier, she kept in constant contact with him and he was never too busy to help her. There were many times when he was the only one who could help and he always did." - Jennifer D. Maree
8/6/07
"About fifteen months ago I randomly sent an email to Dr. Moser. (I have MS, although at first I thought I had AMN.) The next day Dr, Moser emailed back, commenting in detail on an essay in Neurology Now that I had published. We corresponded by email about five times over the next two months. The thing that struck me about him, strange to say, was how he wrote to me that first time, as though I were a friend he had known for years. That's when I knew he was a remarkable doctor." - Stephen Sangirardi
6/1/07
"My son, Cameron Milioni has been involved in the research program in the Neurogenetics since he was born. He is now 16 years old. Cameron is in the National Honor Society and in the the Latin Classical Honor Society and played on the baseball team this year. In 1990, I found out I was pregnant with my first born son, Cameron. My husband and I were both graduate students, had little money and knew nothing about the disease when my sister called from California to tell me her 12 year old son had been diagnosed with Adrenoleukodystrophy and that she was a carrier. She was very disturbed after reading up about the disease in medical journals. The disease itself is devastating and deadly. She had no idea I was pregnant because we had not told anyone yet. She told me I must be tested to see if I was a carrier. I was.
For us, Kennedy Krieger and Dr. Moser's work was hope to a child that would otherwise face a dreadful fate. Cameron was born, tested, and was identifed to have the disease Adrenoleukodystrophy. Cameron began a study protocol from the beginning.Our first trip to Baltimore was when he was six months old. They offered hope, optimism and tools to tackle this disease. Literally, this team of people that we met in 1991 has known our child his whole life. Cameron had all the benefits of the best team of doctors in the world, early intervention, cutting edge technology and research. Dr. Moser and the whole team of doctors and nurses know Cameron by name and they always had time to talk and respond to fear and questions along the way. We never could have afforded this type of care. We are indebted to Dr. Moser and to Dr. Raymond and their staff as so many children like Cameron are. Cameron hopes to become a doctor or study in the medical field some day. It is only because of a caring group of talented doctors like Dr. Moser that he has any future at all. They have been like a family to us.
I just want to thank the lifelong efforts of Dr. Moser toward this disease and what it means to families like us and the Kennedy Krieger center for assisting kids just like Cameron."
- Sincerely,
The Milioni Family
1/31/07
"Dr. Hugo Moser's kindness, compassion and accomplishments were evident even to those of us who knew him only for a short time. However, many may not be aware that, early in his remarkable career, he was involved in the nascent efforts that led to the public health newborn screening programs that now operate throughout our country and much of the world. It is only fitting that, with his wife Ann, he returned to newborn screening in his final efforts on behalf of the patients and families with XALD. While we are deeply saddened that he will not be with us to see those efforts come to fruition, we are equally resolved to pursue them as part of his legacy."
- Harry Hannon, Ph.D., Robert F. Vogt, Jr., Ph.D., and the staff of the CDC Newborn Screening Branch
1/30/07
"We are the Liley family from England. When our sons were diagnosed with ALD, Hugo rose to the occasion, explaining in simple terms what was happening with science and what we could expect. I was privileged to be part of a standing ovation at the ELA/Myelin Project in Nice - I thought people were never going to sit down, and quite rightly too. Thank you Hugo and thank you Ann, we will keep fighting. Kindest regards."
- Mark Liley and family
1/29/07
"I wanted to express my personal regrets on the passing of Dr Hugo Moser. Dr Moser was truly one of the greats in the field of neurodevelopmental disabilities and a wonderful human being. My condolences to his family and colleagues on his loss."
- Herbert J. Cohen, M.D., Rose F. Kennedy Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
1/26/07
"There are not many friendships that have to live down a Hollywood film, but mine with Dr. Hugo Moser did. The 1992 film Lorenzo's Oil portrayed the controversy between Hugo, played by Peter Ustinov, and myself, played by Nick Nolte, in a struggle between a family motivated by love and a scientist bound by professional skepticism. Ustinov managed to capture some of the Continental charm Hugo possessed in boundless quantities - but the script called for a black and white clash of ideas and ideals, and Hugo's character had to shoulder the burden of being, if not the movie's Bad Guy, then certainly its skeptical-scientist-in-chief.
In truth, Hugo, who diagnosed Lorenzo back in 1984 as suffering with ALD, was too intellectually curious to dismiss Lorenzo's Oil - simply because it came from two lay people: my late wife, Michaela and myself. He joined us in organizing the first international symposium on ALD, and later commissioned an international, multi-center study investigating whether Lorenzo's Oil was in fact a viable therapy for ALD.
Hugo had no hang-ups. In a scientific world that is tremendously territorial about "areas of expertise" and "authorship, he associated me in various scientific publications, including his last and most important article (Archives of Neurology 2005) on the results of the Lorenzo's Oil study.
My friendship with Hugo reached its zenith when he asked me to join him as a coauthor of the publication of Lorenzo's Oil. I will never forget what he told me on that occasion, "Augusto, from now on we will be partners!"
During the years in which disputes gave way to collaboration, we discovered mutual passions: for good food, European culture, and above all our families. Hugo often came to visit Lorenzo in our home: he was one of the few never to question our decision to keep our son, who had lost almost all of his faculties to ALD, at home; and when Michaela discovered she had lung cancer and only six months to live, she drew great comfort from her conversations with Hugo. Our friendship grew - to be cemented when, recently, I came down with normal pressure hydrocephalus: Hugo insisted that I receive the best available medical attention, and referred me to the top specialists at Johns Hopkins University Hospital.
Good-bye, Hugo."
- Augusto Odone, President and Co-Founder of The Myelin Project
1/25/07
"I feel honored to have worked with Hugo Moser for 22-1/2 years. I have enjoyed learning from his scientific acumen, grantsmanship, and social interactions with colleagues and patients. I marveled at the way he handled success and defeat equally. Scientific advance was his primary goal as he wanted to eradicate the suffering of his patients. His benevolence was felt globally from the scientists who came and stayed in his home, to the patients for whom testing was performed gratis by his wife, Ann, in the laboratory they ran together. He gave a caring ear to everyone who entered his office, however busy he was. His advice was sound and sincere, ranging from scholarly to philosophical, and never demeaning. He never indulged in petty thought or activity, but always asked how he could help someone. A case in point was when I mentioned to him of an undergraduate student's involvement with obtaining computers for indigent children in Baltimore. He immediately became involved in writing letters, with the student, to charitable organizations. Eventually they obtained a large donation from Microsoft to provide state-of-the-art computers to this play group, in addition to his own personal financial contribution.
Hugo was my mentor and my friend. I shall miss him dearly, but will try to continue his legacy in homage."
- SakkuBai Naidu, M.D., Director, Neurogenetics Research Unit, Director, Rett Syndrome Research Project, Kennedy Krieger Institute
1/25/07
"Dr. Moser was a wonderful man and one of the most inspiring characters I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. I'll never forget him, nor will the countless thousands of people he touched. It was truly a privilege to have met such an amazing man."
- Jonathan Eig, Senior Special Reporter, Wall Street Journal
1/25/07
"Being a victim of a rare demyelinating disease such as Central Pontine Myelinolysis I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Moser who was as interested in my life with CPM as I was listening to his knowledge and visions. He so graciously was willing to assist me in my plight to bring awareness to this horrific disease. Dr. Moser provided unique direction that I followed and along with the caring personal rehabilitation by the International Center for Spinal Cord Injury at Kennedy Krieger Institute, I was ready to go with Dr. Moser's plan. As I continue our direction plan Dr. Moser's short direct points will always guide me. He was a mentor and friend, God Bless."
- Jeffrey M. Amitin, CPM Survivor Founder, Central Pontine Myelinolysis Awareness Foundation.
1/25/07
"It is with great sadness, I am writing to share some of my memories of Dr. Hugo Moser. Hugo was one of the world's best, not only as physician, academian and researcher but also as one of the kindest, most empathic and warmest human beings I have ever met and will ever know.
In his so typical open and generous manner, Hugo invited me as a young German medical student to stay with his family while visiting Baltimore and working in Ann's and his laboratory at Kennedy Krieger Institute. I then had the privilege to become a member of the family; living with the Moser's for years throughout my residency and further training.
Especially since my own father passed away a few year ago, Hugo has been like a second father to me. And I am just one of many, many people who's life he has touched.
Hugo is truly extraordinary - not only because of the level of success of his research and work - but because he, through all his endeavors, always truly and deeply cared about his patients and their families. It sometimes appeared to me that the urge to alleviate their suffering gave him the seeming endless energy and endurance that his distinguished career required. He displayed the same warmth and caring towards all his staff, colleagues and collaborators.
I know that Ann, always at his side and an indispensable part to who Hugo Moser was and what he/they accomplished, is fully determined to continue and successfully complete Hugo's most important recent project: the establishment of universal newborn screening for peroxisomal disorder."
- Christiane Theda M.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
1/25/07
"Dr. Moser loved science - and he was relentless in setting a goal and pursuing it. Always incredibly hospitable - visiting physicians, fellows, trainees were always welcome into the neurogenetics division and also into Hugo's home. I am certain that you will hear from a number of individuals who lived in the Mosers' spacious home in Roland Park for months! Hugo was fond of saying that you might not know who was going to be at the breakfast table, but I have never heard anyone who did not say that he and Ann made them welcome.
Hugo was dedicated to each patient and family and was always sympathetic to their situation. He was compassionate, caring, and always trying to assist them in any way that he could. He was committed to the family organizations and gave freely of his time to them.
Finally, he was devoted to his wife Ann. Their partnership in life was an amazing and beautiful thing and it touched all of us who know them."
- Gerald Raymond, M.D.
1/24/07
"I started working at Kennedy Krieger twenty-two years ago as a Librarian. A week or so after I started, Dr. Moser requested a literature search for a speech he was scheduled to give. Naturally, I completed the assignment immediately and delivered it to him. I was astounded when several days later I received a written Thank You note from Dr. Moser. I couldn't believe that this important and busy man would take the time to send me a written thank you note. I performed many more literature searches for Dr. Moser, and he always thanked me profusely; but I never forgot that note. I considered it quite a privilege that I could assist this caring and great man, in some small way, with his work."
- Bettea Hoofnagle, Director, KKI Training Administration
1/24/07
"It was a tremendous gift for everyone here who works with the Kennedy Krieger Institute to come to know Dr. Moser, his talents and scientific contributions, through sharing his work with the media. His charisma and personal commitment reached beyond the scope of a motivated researcher; his sheer humanity and goodness compels one to join his cause. We will miss his smile and enthusiasm."
- John J. Seng, Founder and President, Spectrum Science Communications, Washington, DC
1/22/07
"His sole motivation during his 30-plus year tenure at the Kennedy Krieger Institute was to help those suffering. Amid the many appointments he held, papers he published, studies he led and awards he received, he never wavered from this commitment."
- Dr. Gary Goldstein, President, Kennedy Krieger Institute
1/23/07
"Hugo was really one of the giants of neurology. He's trained countless neurologists, and I'd consider him a model of how we all want to do neurology."
- Douglas Kerr, Professor of Neurology, Johns Hopkins Medical School