Tom Pitt Ford, Professor of Endodontology, Director of Education and Vice Dean of the Dental Institute for King’s College London, died peacefully at home in the early hours of Sunday 17 August. Tom qualified from Guy’s Hospital Dental School in 1971 with honours in prosthetic dentistry and went onto gain his FDS from Glasgow and his PhD from the University of London in 1980. He was latterly awarded the FDS from both Edinburgh and London in honour of his contributions to endodontology. He was a major figure in endodontology, internationally known for his work and widely published. As editor of the *International Endodontic Journal*, Tom made a significant contribution to enhanced scientific rigour in the field. He was appointed to Chair in Endodontology at United Medical and Dental Schools in 1997, the first in the UK. His attention to detail was legendary and his superb administration resulted in the Dental School scoring a maximum 24 out of 24 in the National Teaching Exercise. In 2002 he was appointed Director of Education in the merged King’s College London Dental Institute. His leadership qualities were recognised by his appointments as Vice Dean, as Chair of the KCL Education Committee, and as Director of Institutional and Academic Audit for the College. He was awarded the Dental Alumnus Distinguished Service Award in 2008 in honour of his contribution to the Dental Institute. His major legacy, however, will be his contribution to the development of British and International endodontology, his extensive writing and his scholarship and journal editorship. Uniquely he was elected twice as President of the British Endodontic Society. Largely due to Tom, endontolology is now a well established specialty in the UK. Tom’s death is a great loss not only to his family, but also to his colleagues at KCL Dental Institute and the dental academic world. His influence and example will survive him, but he will be sorely missed. He has been superbly supported by his wife, Heather, and three children Alexandra, Charles and Edward, throughout his illustrious career.