Remembering Albert

I first met Albert in person and had the opportunity to spend some time with him when we were both teaching at the Molecular Cytogenetics Course in Bertinoro. Later I was a Board member of the European Cytogeneticists Association of which he was the president at that time. A few years ago, I joined the faculty of the Goldrain Course on Clinical Cytogenetics, founded by Albert.

Goldrain is a small village in the Vinschgau valley (val Venosta), Sud Tyrol. Although Albert was born in Vienna, his family had Tyrolean roots. Albert had vast knowledge of the geography and history of the region and felt totally at home in the area; he even bought and restored a medieval tower not far from Goldrain, where he spent much of his time in the summer.

I will not go into his professional career in Zurich—his reputation speaks for itself. It is sufficient to recall that he was once the President of the European Society of Human Genetics.
It was the beautiful Goldrain Castle on the side of the mountain which attracted him as a perfect venue to organize a residential course in clinical cytogenetics. The first course was held in 2007. With its beautiful surroundings Goldrain castle has always been the perfect place for such a course. The lecturers and participants spend seven days together, sharing meals and going for an excursion into nature. The participants learn from the lecturers and from each other; they can hardly be called students, for they all are required to have at least one year of professional experience already.

Albert had brought together a teaching faculty of very competent, close-knit group of people. Two years ago it became clear that the responsibility of organizing the course had become simply too heavy for Albert. At that point, I, as President of the European Cytogeneticists Association, together with other lecturers, who were also members of the ECA, felt that the course could not be allowed to disappear. ECA had to do something. I took on the organizational part, and from then on, I had the privilege of working closely with Albert.
We soon realized how much we shared in our way of thinking, and we grew to appreciate each other deeply. We had even planned to visit each other in Zurich and Bari.
Then, at the end of 2024, came the first health problems that prevented him from attending the 2025 course. And then, suddenly, Albert was gone.

All of us who have taught at Goldrain feel that the best way to honor Albert’s memory is to keep the course alive.

Mariano Rocchi

The Goldrain castle

The 2024 course, the last chaired by Albert

Albert on the balcony of his beloved castle

"Students" during a lecture

"Students" and lecturers during lunch

Excursions during the course