Maxwell Finland (1902–1987), perhaps more than anyone else, helped define the field of “infectious diseases.” As one of its foremost pioneers, he earned international respect for his vast knowledge of the clinical and scientific problems associated with infectious disease in humans. He is remembered as a conscientous researcher, who required that every detail be considered and reported; as a great teacher and mentor, who drove home two primary precepts—to care for the patient and to record all the data and think deeply; as an ethicist, who not only had high moral and ethical standards for himself and his colleagues, but publicly demanded that the scientific community be thorough and accurate in reporting research; and, because he had no family, per se, as a “father” to the people who were his students and staff and included more than 100 physicians who worked directly with him at The Thorndike Memorial Laboratory. In the last role, he provided advice, support, entertainment, and love to those with whom he worked. When he died on October 25, 1987, at the age of 85, Maxwell Finland was George Richards Minot Professor of Medicine, Emeritus, and former director of the Harvard Medical Unit, Boston City Hospital. Among the numerous legacies and memories, Finland left several endowed professorships at Harvard Medical School, for which he provided a major part of the funding, and a three-volume history of the Harvard Medical Unit. Today, a professorship at Harvard Medical School bears his name and an annual lectureship is named in his honor by the infectious Disease Society of America. This article provides a brief history of this life and, to more accurately portray the deep respect and love his “family” had for him, comments from some of the individuals who knew him well.