Samuel Scher started his medical studies at the University of Cape Town and, being a very bright student, he was awarded the MA in anatomy in 1926 with such brilliant classmates as Sir Solly Zuckerman, Tom Dry and David Slome. He then entered University College Hospital in London, qualified in 1930 and passed the FRCS in 1932. He then studied urology in London and in 1934 he commenced practice as a specialist urologist in Cape Town and started his long association with the Somerset Hospital which lasted over 40 years. In 1939 he moved to Groote Schuur Hospital with Dr Goldschmidt but remained on the staff of the Somerset. During the second world war he carried a very heavy clinical load and all this work was done without any financial reward. In 1947 he became head of the urology department at the University of Cape Town and retired in 1970, after working continuously for 23 years. During this time the work, the staff and the status of the department increased considerably. He was one of the pioneers of transurethral surgery with the 'punch' and experimented with renal transplantation in animals in Cape Town. He also did considerable research in bladder cancer, which he continued until just before his death. His kindness was legendary among all he came in contact with and he faced his last illness with great courage. He died on 29 April 1982 survived by his wife Gertie and his son Michael.