A few days ago, the Master of Surgery, Héctor D. Santángelo, passed away following his usual style: discreet, considerate, wise and honorable.

Prof. Santángelo was born in Capital Federal on April 27, 1929; he was son of Domingo Santángelo, commander of the Argentine Navy, and Laura Ciocconi. They lived in the traditional neighborhood of Belgrano and moved to Puerto Belgrano due to a change of military assignment. There, Héctor attended some years of elementary school at the Naval Base School. He always mentioned this experience with affection and always remained linked to his beloved Puerto Belgrano.

Once back in Buenos Aires, he completed his education at Colegio de los Hermanos Maristas from where he graduated in 1946 with a gold medal. He used to quote: “They knew how to harmonize faith, culture and sport in me”.

In 1947, he entered the School of Medicine of the UBA, from which he graduated in 1955.

In 1948, as a student and assistant of Anatomic Pathology at Instituto Médico Naval, he met by chance Ricardo Finochietto, who would influence him in his life and career. At that time, the creator of Escuela was working as a consultant of the Department of Surgery and was doing research on rectal cancer. In this way, the young trainee who carried the specimens crossed paths with the charismatic master.

In 1950, Héctor was practicing as a medical student at Corporación Médica del Sur. There he met Dr. Roberto Gárriz who would become his master, mentor and friend. Once he finished his university studies, he entered Escuela Quirúrgica Municipal for graduates, in the mythical Ward VI of Hospital Rawson headed by Finochietto, probably motivated by both transcendental relationships. The following year he was already appointed staff physician.

In 1959 Atilio Lasala called him to head the Department of Surgery at Hospital Bosch. After Dr. Lasala passed away, he definitively returned to Hospital Rawson after three years.

In 1963, when Dr. Gárriz was appointed Chief of Surgery of Pabellón Olivera, he became Chief of Internal Medicine and developed a productive healthcare, academic and teaching work. Since then, his contributions in colorectal, esophageal and gastric surgery have been fundamental and recognized.

In 1970, he was appointed Chief of Unit of Ward IX, where he worked until the hospital was closed in 1978.

Then, Santángelo and Gárriz moved to Hospital Ramos Mejía, continuing a brilliant career, where he trained many disciples until his retirement in 1992 as head of the department.

Between 1993 and 1999 he was appointed Professor of Surgery and Director of the residency program in general surgery at Hospital Naval Dr. Pedro Mallo of Buenos Aires.

In 2000, he was named Consultant in the Department of Surgery of Hospital de San Isidro. “In the epilogue of my career, San Isidro unexpectedly emerges”, said Santángelo when he was appointed Master Surgeon of Escuela Finochietto. I would like to highlight that this epilogue lasted 21 years, during which time he had a positive influence on the physicians of the department, particularly on me, supporting me as the young chief I was and stimulating my teaching and academic career.

Santángelo knew how to relate with young people, and he respected and recognized them. He adapted himself to the changing times, by getting closer to the residents, adopting their communication tools and establishing the necessary bond to passionately continue with his vocation to teach surgery.

The Chief operated just as he taught us, elegantly, with no rush, but without wasting time, forward and tidily. He believed in the phrase inspired by Finochietto: “The hand that holds the scalpel is still the most important matter in surgery”. He instilled in his disciples a judicious respect for the surgical procedure. He repeated that “speed in surgery does not consist of moving the hands quickly, but of having a clear mind about what to do and how to do,” as José María Almanza emphasized at the Asociación Médica Argentina (AMA).

He developed a long and fruitful activity in different scientific societies: he was President of the 63rd Argentine Congress of Surgery and of the AAC in 1994. Once his presidency was over, he was appointed official rapporteur of the topic “ Responsibilities of Asociación Argentina Cirugía in surgical practice”, a work that was a great contribution to modernization that is still carried out in our Association. He was distinguished as Master Surgeon in 2006. He became an Associate Member of Academia Argentina de Cirugía in 1979 and was appointed President in 2008. Santángelo is also remembered as President of Sociedad Argentina de Cirugía Digestiva in 1994, Honorary Member of Sociedad de Coloproctología and Sociedad Argentina de Gastroenterología, Honorary Member of Asociación Médica Argentina and Honorary Foreign Member of the Surgery Societies of France, Paraguay and Bolivia.

He authored more than 140 papers and participated in writing 12 chapters in national and international books. He won 9 awards and was Profesor Consulto de Cirugía at Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA) and Full Professor of Postgraduate Surgery at Universidad del Salvador (USAL).

Reading was his passion, especially works on politics, philosophy, painting and pedagogy. We shared the liking for tango. He was a passionate golf player at his beloved Hindú Club, where he lived for the last 30 years with his inseparable partner, María Rocco, Cuca for her friends. Marcela and Gabriela were his greatest pride, fruits of his former marriage, and gave him five grandchildren, Josefina, Gastón, Agustina, Sofía and Micaela, and 6 great-grandchildren who lovingly accompanied him.

Héctor Santángelo is the archetype of the great Argentine surgeons, proud representative of Escuela Finochietto. He will be remembered by those who shared his medical life for his refined and elegant technique, precise in diagnosis and kind in dealing with patients and relatives; a selfless teacher and brilliant person who always stood out until his last days.