TY - JOUR T1 - In Memoriam – Duncan A. Gordon, 1930–2012 JF - The Journal of Rheumatology JO - J Rheumatol SP - 209 LP - 213 DO - 10.3899/jrheum.130103 VL - 40 IS - 3 AU - EARL D. SILVERMAN AU - ROBERT D. INMAN AU - GUNNAR KRAAG Y1 - 2013/03/01 UR - http://www.jrheum.org/content/40/3/209.abstract N2 - Earl D. Silverman, Editor-in-chief In the summer of 2011, Duncan Gordon first announced his plans to retire as The Journal’s Editor-in-Chief, a position he had held since 1979. The news was received with mixed emotions: We all knew he needed more free time to enjoy other aspects of life, but it was also clear that the new editor was going to have very large shoes to fill. When I was asked to consider becoming editor-in-chief and when the position was ultimately offered to me, an important part of my decision to accept was based on Duncan’s ready availability as a mentor. Sadly for Duncan, as well as for all of us, he soon developed acute myelogenous leukemia. To watch such a great, ‘young,’ passionate man become ill and succumb to this terrible illness was truly sad. Despite the shortened mentorship and guidance time, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to observe how to balance the many aspects required to run a leading rheumatology journal. Those who know me, however, will be the first to confirm that subtlety, mediation, and conciliation are not my forte. Nevertheless, such characteristics are required of a journal editor, and certainly they were Duncan’s strong points. I hope that my short time as co-editor-in-chief with Duncan, as well as more than 20 years on the editorial committee, will have allowed me, if only by osmosis, to acquire some of Duncan’s virtues, both as a person and as a journal editor. Duncan showed true leadership in rheumatology, including disseminating new knowledge in the field, as he successfully guided The Journal from infancy and childhood to adulthood; he was also an outstanding human being. I am sure that all those whose lives he touched will remember him as fondly and for as long as … ER -