Keeping Up with Down Syndrome NSW: Dr Sigfried Pueschel - father, doctor, researcher, writer, humanitarian, leader, 1931

Wednesday 4 September 2013

Dr Sigfried Pueschel - father, doctor, researcher, writer, humanitarian, leader, 1931 - 2013

The international Down syndrome community has lost one of its leading lights with the death yesterday of Dr Sigfried Pueschel in Rhode Island (USA). Dr Pueschel contributed for more than fifty years to the well being of people with Down syndrome all over the world as an expert paediatrician, a writer, a researcher, by speaking with both professional colleagues and families at large and smaller events, as an active participant in both professional and family support organisations, and as a fellow parent of a son with Down syndrome.

In a 1999 speech, he said of his son Christian, who died at the age of 33 in 1998,

"I learned from my son Chris and from so many other individuals with Down syndrome I've had the privilege to care for during the past 40 years that there is a goodness and warm sense of humanity in our children that must be protected and never betrayed. Chris and other persons with Down syndrome taught me about their outstanding human qualities, their foremost contribution to society and their passion for life."

In July 2013, the (US) National Down Syndrome Congress recognized Dr. Pueschel with a Lifetime Achievement Award, at its annual convention.

Dr Pueschel was greatly loved and respected by the families he cared for, those worldwide who benefitted from his broader work, and by his colleagues. He will be greatly missed, but leaves a lasting and precious legacy in his work and ethos.

The Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress has published a detailed tribute here, and a short biography is on the Down Syndrome International website, here.

Dr Brian Chicoine, Director of the Adult Down Syndrome Centre in Chicago, wrote this lovely tribute to Sigfried Pueschel today:

Whenever he spoke at a conference, in a question and answer discussion, or simply over lunch, I (and many others) listened intently. To me, he was the face of the community of practitioners serving people with Down syndrome. He was a "go-to" guy when looking for information on Down syndrome-- almost whatever topic I researched there would be at least an article or two written by Sig. His was the first book on Down syndrome I read. I liked him, I respected him, and I emulated him. Without sounding trite, he was a hero of mine and I will miss him.