Born on 27 February 1911 at Karlsruhe, Herbert Sigmund Kander came from a family with a strong medical tradition. He studied medicine at the Universities of Vienna and Munich, but was obliged by the Nazi tyranny to leave Germany before graduating, and came to England in 1933 at the age of 22. He studied at St Mary's Hospital, and qualified in 1937. After serving as house surgeon at St Mary's, Kander became interested in otolaryngology and during the next two years was a registrar in the ear nose and throat departments of St Mary's and Queen Mary's Hospitals, and at Golden Square Throat Hospital. During the war he was in general practice at Stafford, and in 1946 was appointed consultant surgeon in otolaryngology to the Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital, where he made his mark. He was particularly interested in treatment of deafness, for which he organised special clinics at Coventry. Kander achieved much in spite of recurrent illness. He had charm, humour, and enthusiasm. He died suddenly at 35 Morningside, Coventry on 17 November 1961 aged 50, survived by his wife Dr Edith Kander, who had been part-time Medical Officer of Health for Coventry and Warwickshire, and by their daughter and son, a medical student at St Mary's. Publications: An unusual case of cerebellar abscess, with W Wallchurch. *J Laryngol* 1944, 59, 223. Treatment of deafness and recurrent otitis media with x-rays, jointly with K Sicher. *Lancet* 1950, 2, 672. Three cases of respiratory paralysis treated by pressure breathing through a tracheotomy, with J F Galpine. *J Laryngol* 1957, 71, 123.