Béla Záborszky, 1927–2002

There are people who are born to be doctors, and there are even some who are born to be paediatric cardiologists. We were lucky to know such a man. He was called Béla Záborszky. He graduated as a medical doctor in 1951, at the Semmelweis University of Budapest. He became a paediatrician in 1955, and from 1957 on he worked as a paediatric cardiologist in the newly founded Hungarian Institute of Cardiology in Budapest. He was one among the very first who organized the transport and treatment of children with cardiac disease in Hungary. He authored the first publications in Hungary, dealing with all the topics that were up-to-date at that time. These publications became the basics in the development of Hungarian paediatric cardiology. Over this same time, he wrote his thesis on the heterotaxy syndromes.

He was always an enthusiastic teacher, enjoying the opportunity to share his huge clinical experience and knowledge with the younger generation. With János Kamarás, he made huge efforts to organize the “paediatric cardiology network” in Hungary. Despite suffering a serious illness after his retirement, he continued to work until his death.

We are all grateful to him, not only because he taught us paediatric cardiology for many years, but also because he was able to talk about other things, such as art, music, literature, and history. Because of this, he was also able to help us to become more human.

We are all proud that he belonged to us for such a long period of time. We all believe that it is only his body that has left us. His soul remains with us forever.