of operations.

He was an authority in abdominal surgery, due to the results obtained and the modern concepts he promoted.

He published numerous articles in special journals ("Chirurgia" in the first place) and authored several reference monographs: Colon surgery (1984), Upper digestive hemorrhage (1988), Surgery of the spleen (1991). These publications were the results of the joint efforts of his team, which represented with honor the first surgical clinic of the eminent medical school of Cluj.

Due to his outstanding professional achievement he was elected honorary member of the Romanian Academy of Medical Sciences.

Professor George Ionescu was mentor for many generations of surgeons who still carry on the tradition of the Cluj surgery school. He left his mark on their formation by the knowledge he shared and also by being amodel as a man and surgeon.

In his private life he had a passion for sports and hunting, music and fine arts, travel and friendly gatherings.

Professor George Ionescu was a man of charm, with a professional authority immediately sensed by everyone, warm hearted and profoundly humane, qualities that left a lasting impression. He was an exquisite professional, but especially kind, always smiling, always finding the right words of comfort, encouragement or appreciation, particularly for the young ones.

This is how I knew him and how I shall bear him in my memory. I wish there were more mentors like him in Romanian surgery, who would teach, train and inspire.

Professor George Ionescu's image will linger forever in our souls, in the hearts of those who knew him; for the younger generations