became an important link between Brazilian, Latin American, American and European specialists. As a matter of fact, one of his most prized titles was that of the “Father of Latin-American Coloproctology”, awarded to him by ALACP. His lowering technique for megacolon and rectal cancer has gained worldwide fame and has a story worth telling.

In 1960, during the 1st ALACP Conference held in São Paulo, he was talking to Rupert Turnbull, from the Cleveland Clinic, at a dinner party held in his house, during which at some point he went on to describe a technique he had developed for rectal cancer. Daher immediately went to his study and brought out the drawings of his technique and they both laughed to find that, without knowing each other personally and having never spoken about it, they had had the same idea! The fact is that Daher published his work, along with Felipe Figliolini in Diseases, a few months before Turnbull published his own work in the Cleveland Clinic journal.

Daher Cutait also found time to dedicate to his community. And so, he was the president of the Brazilian Society of Coloproctology (1957 and 1986), one of the founders of the Latin American Association of Coloproctology and its first president (1957-1960), he also was president of the Brazilian College of Surgeons (1976-1979), the Latin American Federation of Surgery (1977-1982) and the International Society of University Colon and Rectal Surgeons (1985-1986). He presided conferences for all these societies as well as for the World Congress of Coloproctology in 1986. But Daher also found time to dedicate to the Hospital Sírio Libanês, being its first Clinical Director from 1965 until his death in 2001, where in fact he also was the institution's president, helping it to grow and gain prestige as a center of excellence and reference. To this hospital he imprinted his humanistic spirit and constant pursuit for the highest quality. His view of the doctors at the institution was very clear: to make them a priority and to give them the

best working conditions, since this was the best way to care for the patients treated at the institution. Finally, Daher did not neglect his private practice, having been one of the most respected and sought-after surgeons of his time.

I think Daher Cutait achieved in his profession everything that anyone could aspire to be: he was an excellent surgeon, recognized not only by his peers but also by his patients, who were his top priority, above his personal or momentary needs; he was esteemed and respected; he developed a surgical technique that bears his name and that marked the history of colorectal surgery; he was a great professor and teacher of many generations; he published good scientific work; he devotedly advised many surgeons and teachers directly or indirectly; he was an active member of national and international medical societies; he raised a beautiful family and, above all, he had a very happy life!

I can't finish this text without mentioning that Daher had an angel in his life, my mother Yvonne, who always tried to understand him and help him in his mission, often assuming the role of father and mother for us, her four children. I can say that my siblings and I, following his constant example, grew up guided by the qualities he exercised in his life: honesty, dedication to causes, respect for human beings. His faults? Yes, he had them, but they did not obscure, or diminish his positive impact on us.

Daher Cutait time on earth ended, but he is still among us, through his example and accomplishments.

Raul Cutait

Departament of Surgery, School of Medicine, Universidade de São Paulo (USP)

Academia Nacional de Medicina

Sociedade Brasileira de Coloproctologia