Louis René De Jode was born on 29 November 1926 in East Ham, London. He was the son of Louis Guillaume De Jode and Germaine, née Tavernier, who left Belgium during the first world war. His father set up practice in the East End, where he became a much loved and respected family doctor. Louis always intended to follow his father into a medical career, but severe asthma prevented him from going to school until the age of 13. After that his diligence and determination took him to the London Hospital Medical College, where he qualified MB BS in 1950. As a house surgeon at the London he showed outstanding promise and developed an interest in surgery. He took his MRCS in 1953 as a preparation for the FRCS examination, which he passed successfully in the same year. At the London he met June, the theatre sister who was to become his wife. After leaving the London he spent a year as a surgical research fellow at the Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital in Philadelphia, where he did much of the work for his MS thesis on homo-transplantation of the canine pancreas. The thesis was accepted in 1964. Meanwhile, in 1963, he had been appointed consultant surgeon to Whipps Cross Hospital and the Forest Hospital. At Whipps Cross he organised a highly successful course for candidates for the Fellowship. He was a gifted and popular teacher and of those accepted for his course - there was much competition to join it - over 80% were successful in the final examination. He was appointed a surgical tutor for the NE Metropolitan Board area, and later elected a member of the Court of Examiners of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. On this appointment, with typical probity, he handed over the running of his course to avoid any possible conflict of interests. De Jode was a masterly general surgeon, with a special interest in vascular and colorectal surgery, at both of which he excelled. For many years he carried virtually the whole load of elective and emergency vascular surgery at Whipps Cross. As a colorectal surgeon he was active in the Section of Proctology of the Royal Society of Medicine, and was elected President of the Section in 1981. His untimely death at the age of 55 from a cardiac infarction at Whipps Cross occurred half-way through his Presidency and when he was preparing to preside at the annual International Meeting in Proctology at Copenhagen in the following month. For all his professional achievements Louis remained modest, with a delightful sense of humour, and unassertive except in matters of principle, on which he stood firm. He was a kind friend and guide to all with whom he came into contact, from professional colleagues to hospital porters. His registrars and house officers were all devoted admirers. He treated every patient with the same consideration. His happy home was a centre of hospitality to friends and colleagues. He died on 14 April 1982 survived by his wife June, their sons Anthony, Martin and Michael and their daughter Clare.