The field of cystic fibrosis has recently lost one of its most important and influential personalities. Gerd Döring touched the lives of clinicians, scientists, patients, parents, academic societies and the pharmaceutical industry with his commitment and enthusiasm to impact cystic fibrosis by increasing scientific knowledge which could be translated into effective new therapies. Gerd was an inspirational leader of the cystic fibrosis world in Europe and made a number of scientific breakthroughs in the understanding of this disease. Gerd was a charismatic and gifted person in many aspects of his life. He would not have accepted the title of a renaissance man but indeed lived up to many of the ideals of this epitaph. He dearly loved Florence, the birth place of the renaissance, and had a lovely summer house in the Tuscan mountains south of Florence where they frequently showed hospitality to friends and colleagues. It was also in Tuscany that he arranged and led a series of consensus meetings resulting in publications that had a very significant impact on the delivery of care for cystic fibrosis in Europe. Gerd was a very gifted pianist and played at a professional level. He spoke fluent English, French and Italian, and had a comprehensive knowledge of classical and contemporary art; he was remarkable in his bringing together of robust science with beauty, and a sense of being part of something greater than the individual is important. He also enjoyed exercise whether it be skiing or jogging. Gerd combined a hardworking German lifestyle with a fantastic sense of humour and was always looking for new jokes to tell. At get-togethers and farewell parties, he was an indefatigable dancer. Precious moments were the celebration of newly published publications in a couple of old Tübingen punts on the Neckar river or the summer parties in the large garden of his house on the Tübingen Österberg. Gerd was persistent in all that he did and perhaps most importantly was someone who could always be trusted. Gerd's undergraduate studies were in pharmaceutical chemistry and microbiology. He worked in the University of Tübingen throughout his professional life mostly in the Institute of Hygiene. His doctoral thesis was on transition metal complexes and his inaugural dissertation in the University of Tübingen on Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in cystic fibrosis. One of us (NH) first met Gerd in 1981 after he had finished his university dissertation and started a lifelong scientific collaboration and personal friendship with Gerd and his wife Cornelia. In the 1980s and early 90s Gerd spent time studying with Niels Høiby in Copenhagen and in 1992 was awarded a postgraduate scholarship from the French government to work in Lyon. These collaborations had important outcomes and also became the basis of international collaborations with colleagues from many countries especially from Denmark, France, Italy, UK, The Netherlands, USA and Canada. His most significant scientific articles changed the understanding of the pathogenesis of cystic fibrosis lung disease particularly in the area of innate immunity, inflammation and anaerobic conditions found in the CF airway. His most recent important contributions were in understanding the behaviour of anaerobic bacteria, T-cell immunology and regulation in chronic Pseudomonas infection and the importance of cross-infection and potential for treatment with vaccination. He had also developed an interest in the use of inhaled nitric oxide as a therapeutic intervention in cystic fibrosis and in the days before he passed away was still actively working on a programme of research to investigate this new treatment modality. In addition to his comprehensive scientific activities Gerd was a significant leader of the European cystic fibrosis community. Gerd became president of the European Cystic Fibrosis Society in 1998 following its successful move from the European Working Group for Cystic Fibrosis. During his presidency, the society became internationally very successful. He had a very ambitious vision for the ECFS and worked relentlessly towards establishing the society as a recognised and respected scientific society. Gerd was instrumental in a number of strategic decisions that brought the ECFS to the forefront, from the launch of a scientific journal entirely dedicated to cystic fibrosis to the organisation of the annual European CF conference. During this time, he also initiated highly successful basic science conferences and regular consensus conferences which have had a significant impact on treatment. At the completion of his presidency of the ECFS, Gerd became the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Cystic Fibrosis and worked tirelessly, including the days before his passing, on making JCF the pre-eminent journal in the field of cystic fibrosis. Gerd was a great scientist who understood the importance of planning for the future. He was an exemplary mentor to young scientists and clinicians and was always prepared to help those with a good idea that would make a difference to patients with cystic fibrosis. Gerd was a man of great vision who saw the importance of the CF Community in Europe and across the world working together to ensure that no time is lost in developing effective therapies for CF. Many of the goals that Gerd had set for the ECFS in the early 1990s have now been fulfilled. Gerd's death is a tremendous loss for all working in the cystic fibrosis field. Isaac Newton remarked that the reason we can see so far is because we stand on the shoulders of giants. Gerd was such a giant in cystic fibrosis and through his research and leadership we can all see more clearly the road ahead for making an impact on this terrible disease. Our sympathy and condolences go to Gerd's wife Cornelia and their sons Johannes and Moritz. We hope they are comforted by knowing that Gerd had a life well lived and was a man whose time on this earth made a real difference.