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INTRODUCTION

Robert A. Good, B.A., M.D., Ph.D., D.Sc., FACP, the father of modern immunology and cellular engineering, will always be remembered for his extensive studies of X-linked agammaglobulinemia bisecting the immunological universe, the universe of the lymphoid system, and the universe of viruses. He identified and defined numerous primary immunodeficiencies of humans, and especially identified and defined chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) of childhood. His research achievements include the discovery of the function of the thymus and the definition of the two distinct major cellular components of the immunity system, and performance of the first successful bone marrow transplantation in a human.

Good was like Paul Bunyan, the legendary figure who hailed from his home state of Minnesota: super sized in all that he did. If ever the field of medicine and medical research needed a recruitment model to induce bright young minds to follow a career in the sciences, the life and legend of Bob Good would be a great choice.

Ab ovo usque ad mala. (To the stars through difficulties.)

He overcame the death of his father at an early age and a crippling bout of Guillain-Barré that left him partially paralyzed. He turned the challenge of hours when he was unable to play sports into an advantage and used them to study science and medicine. He demanded the best from himself and others and yet was always supportive, seemingly when needed most. He out-published, out-worked, and outshined most of his colleagues but it did not turn his head; instead, his feet were planted, in those famous tennis shoes, firmly on the ground. He said he felt more at home and in his element patting the fontanels and rubbing the abdomens of his little patients than on stage giving a speech. Good loved every minute of life and life returned the compliment. Bob Good has not left us; he has merely gone on ahead, as he always has.