Book of condolences / Kondolenzbuch

Liebe Marcus, Es ist einfach so unglaublich und manchmal denke ich, es gibt vielleicht doch noch ein Erwachen aus einem dunklen Traum. Aber nun ist der Funke der Hoffnung erloschen. Deinem unglaublichem Enthusiasmus konnte man sich nicht entziehen. Niemand hat die Bühne so mit Leben und Leidenschaft ausgefüllt und die Zuhörer hingen an deinen Worten. Es war mir außerordentliche Ehre und riesige Freude mit dich gekannt zu haben. Allen Angehörigen und Trauernden mein tiefstes Mitgefühl. Wie auch das Leuchten der Sterne Millionen Jahre anhält, so bleibt auch dein Leuchten in unserem Herzen. Unsere Gedanken sind bei dir

Dear Marcus, you are greatly missed. I will always remember our wonderful collaboration. Your achievements will never be forgotten. My sincere condolences to your family, friends and colleagues in Berlin.

Lieber Marcus, es tut uns im Herzen weh, daß Du nicht mehr bei uns sein kannst. Wir vermissen Dein lebensfrohes, mitreißendes, warmes „Wir-Wesen“ voller Enthusiasmus und, so schien es, stets bereit Pferde zu stehlen. Ich kann mich noch lebhaft an unser erstes richtiges Gespräch erinnern, auf einer Tagung in Hangzhou vor mehr als 10 Jahren. Ich fragte Dich: „Darf ich Ihnen einen Kaffee mitbringen?“. Deine Antwort überraschte mich vollends.: „Auf gar keinen Fall… (Pause)…sagst Du „Sie“ zu mir!“. Wer Dich einmal kennenlernte, den ließ Deine Freude, Energie und Hilfsbereitschaft nicht mehr los. Als ich Dich vor gut einem Jahr um Unterstützung bat, hast Du vertrauensvoll geholfen, ohne viel Federlesen. Nicht nur dafür sind wir Dir sehr dankbar. Was Du uns vorgelebt hast werden wir bewahren. „Do it“! Dein Wesen wird uns allen so unendlich fehlen, für immer. Doch Du bist bei uns, denn Du hast es geschafft, daß wir Deinen Spirit in uns tragen. Unser Beileid und unsere Gebete senden wir an Deine Familie und all jene, die Dich lieben.

I am so sorry and shocked to learn that Marcus has died. I did not know him personally but he was such an important part of my journey as an urticaria patient. I discovered the All Things Urticaria podcast at the early stages of my diagnosis. Up until then I had been frightened, lonely and confused about my illness. Marcus’s positivity and optimism changed all that. His words made me feel understood for the first time. He really knew and had such compassion for what patients experience. He gave me hope and understanding about the disease, and made me realise that I wasn’t alone. When I started my treatment I felt reassured about how it would work, and to be patient if it took some time to do so. He made me realise that people do care about this disease and that a whole community of researchers and clinicians were working to help patients like me. This made me feel less isolated and more hopeful. I’m so grateful to Marcus for the work he did to help urticaria patients - from his clinical research to the Ucare app and the podcast where he made the science accessible to people like me. His loss is a terrible tragedy. I hope that his legacy will continue to make a difference to patients. In the meantime, I send heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.

I'm a writer, and I'm really struggling with where to even begin. I am so very sorry for Dr. Maurer's family and colleagues. When I heard the news that he was missing, it hit very hard. This grief I'm feeling with his death is heavy and I know will be with Jake and I for a while to come. When my son Jake was 14 years old, we were introduced to Dr. Maurer by Dr. Allen Kaplan, our advocate doctor and wise guide through his struggle with Urticaria. At the point we met Dr. Maurer, Jake had lost his quality of life for four years, and we had four more years to go. We came to Berlin twice to have Dr. Maurer do what others could not; prescribe a regimin of treatment that would put his Urticaria into remission. The first time we met him, he said to Jake, "I have a son, and I will treat you like I would treat my son." Being so far from home alone, it was what we needed to hear. We were scared and had lost a lot of hope for a better life for him. Dr. Maurer also read through transcripts I have worked on to be a support book for other patients, and he even met with a publisher to support my work. Every time I or Jake contacted him, he was back with support, encouragement and answers. I have never known a man like him. His selflessness and support for his patients, us, was truly unique not only in his industry, but in any industry. He last contacted Jake the night before he went missing, to tell him that he was on vacation, but that he would set up a call with him if he needed that. To his family, please know that your husband, father, brother, son, uncle and all he was to you- he truly was special. His work and service will live on in so many. Jake, my son, has a wonderful life today due to his dedication to us. I am so very sorry. I will never forget him, and I will do whatever I can to forward the same care to others that he showed to us. My ongoing prayers for you all.

Truly deeply saddened to learn of Professor Marcus Maurer’s passing. Having had the privilege of knowing him for the past ten years, I witnessed firsthand the remarkable passion and dedication he brought to the HAE community. His contributions were not only transformative but also touched the lives of so many patients and colleagues. He was not just a brilliant mind, but also a compassionate and kind-hearted person. His unwavering commitment to advancing the field and helping those affected by HAE will leave an indelible mark on all of us. His loss is deeply felt, and the world is undoubtedly poorer without his presence. My thoughts are with his family, friends, and everyone who had the honor of working with him. Will forever cherish the memories and the impact he made.

I am a Dermatologist who had just recently written an email to Dr. Maurer asking him if he would provide me some material to use in an upcoming PowerPoint presentation. I had been listening to many of his podcasts and watched presentations on YouTube and was truly amazed at his passion for his subject of interest Urticaria. He replied within 24 hours to my email with numerous material for my presentation. I was truly shocked and extremely saddened to hear he went missing after I had sent a second email asking for his advice on a particular. Scientists of his calibre, compassion and passion are rare. The world has lost a true visionary. I would have loved to have met him in person. RIP Professor Maurer

Obwohl er so viele Tage als vermisst galt, und ein unversehrtes Auffinden unwahrscheinlich wurde, fällt es dennoch schwer zu glauben, dass Marcus Maurer nicht mehr physisch präsent ist und sein wird. Ich habe ihn als einen Menschen kennengelernt, der offen, progressiv und mitreißend war, mit guter Laune, ein angenehmes Klima für die Gruppe schaffend. Er verstand es, Teams zu bilden und Menschen zu fördern. Er war im professionellen Kontakt unkompliziert, sehr nahbar, nicht vom professoralen Thron herab, sondern auf Augenhöhe. Mein tiefes Mitgefühl gilt allen, die ihm persönlich nahe standen, wegen des unwiederbringlichen Verlustes und auch wegen der zehrenden Ungewissheit der vergangenen Wochen. Marcus Maurer bleibt in Erinnerung als außergewöhnliche Persönlichkeit und Vorbild. Und als (Zitat): Rockstar!

We are deeply saddened by the sudden and untimely loss of Professor Marcus Maurer, an esteemed leader in dermatology and allergy, with over 850 published articles and 55 books and chapters that greatly advanced allergy research and treatment. Prof. Marcus Maurer played a key role in founding the GA2LEN Urticaria and Angioedema Network of Reference and Excellence - UCARE/ACARE. These over 100 centers worldwide are a testament to Prof. Marcus Maurer’s dedication to building strong relationships between patients and physicians who provide exceptional clinical care and lead pioneering research. He was deeply devoted to enhancing patient care, advancing research, and elevating patient voices through educational initiatives. Prof. Marcus Maurer’s contributions to the Center of Allergy and Immunology, Tbilisi, Georgia is so huge. He warmly hosted us at Charité and conducted a comprehensive audit in Tbilisi for UCARE, ACARE, and ADCARE certification. Since 2018, he paved the way for a valuable friendship and collaboration between us and Charité, personally engaging with us and other UCARE and ACARE Centers worldwide. As a result, we have consistently participated in GA2LEN Meetings, Webinars, LevelUp/Journal Clubs, Forums, etc. We collaborated on research projects, published scientific articles, book chapters, and guidelines. Most importantly, through this cooperation, we gained many new friends and colleagues. Today, we are proudly double-certified as a UCARE/ACARE and ADCARE Center (Atopic Dermatitis Network of Reference and Excellence), and we have recently joined the Anaphylaxis and Food Allergy - ANACARE Network after certification. Professor Marcus Maurer was a steadfast supporter of all initiatives. His leadership and exceptional interpersonal skills allowed him to develop various collaborative activities within the UCARE/ACARE Network, where he served as a driving force behind these efforts. His attention, encouragement, scientific passion, and tireless work were exemplary models for us to follow. He continuously inspired us with fresh ideas, new research interests, and an unwavering dedication. Someone who always finds a way is often described as resourceful and highly gifted. Such individuals possess a remarkable ability to solve problems and develop creative solutions, even in situations where others might struggle. Resourceful people excel at thinking outside the box, finding alternative approaches, and making the most of available resources to achieve their goals. Professor Marcus Maurer embodied these qualities. His motto was "Never give up!" and he was a constant source of help, always finding solutions no matter the circumstances. His sudden and mysterious death is truly heartbreaking and difficult to comprehend. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and everyone who had the privilege of working with him. Words cannot convey the depth of our sorrow or how much we will miss our beloved Marcus.