- Dear Dianne Yaşargil, wife and lifelong surgical
assistant to Professor Yaşargil,
- Prof. Luca Regli, Director of the Department of Neurosurgery at the
University Hospital Zurich,
- Professor Muzaffer Şeker, President of Turkish Academy of Sciences,
- Professor Imad Kanaan, President of the World Academy of Neurological
Surgery,
- Presidents of the Continental Societies,
- Ladies and Gentlenen,

It is both an honor and a solemn responsibility to
speak before you this evening — on what was meant to be a joyful celebration of
Professor Gazi Yaşargil’s 100th birthday, and what has now become a heartfelt
farewell to one of the greatest minds of our time.

When I heard of this event being planned, it was in
the spirit of celebrating the centennial of a living legend — a man whose hands
and mind shaped the very course of neurosurgery. But fate had other plans, and
tonight we find ourselves paying tribute to a giant — not only in medicine, but
in character, humility, and dedication.

Earlier this year, thanks to the kind arrangement of
Mrs. Yaşargil, me and my wife had the distinct privilege of visiting Professor
Yaşargil in his home here in Zürich. He welcomed us with warmth and modesty,
surrounded by books, photographs, and memories of a lifetime devoted to
science. We spoke about his days at the University of Zurich — where he spent
the majority of his distinguished career — and about the characteristics of
being an immigrant, differences in cultural settings of workplaces, as well as
the joyful memories of many students he mentored with such care. It was a
deeply moving encounter that I will never forget, and I said to myself:
fortunately, we did it. And thank you Dianne for letting us do that.

Professor Yaşargil became a citizen of the world, but
he never stopped loving his homeland. He represented Türkiye with grace and
excellence, proving that immigration works, sometimes in a really
extra-ordinary way. He was named “Neurosurgery’s Man of the Century”— a
testament to his global impact — and he remains a source of immense national
pride for us. For his extraordinary contributions, he was awarded the State
Medal of Distinguished Service by the Republic of Türkiye — an honor that only
hints at the depth of his legacy.

As we have seen and heard during the whole day today,
he is remembered around the world especially by the global medical and academic
community as a pioneer whose innovations saved and improved thousands of lives.

As Turks, we take great pride in the fact that one of
our own became a beacon for science and humanity, admired across continents. As
friends, colleagues and admirers, we bid farewell to a kind, gentle soul who
left this world a better place than he found it.

Before I conclude, I would like to express our deep appreciation to Mr. Can
Çakmur, an internationally acclaimed young pianist, who will soon honor the
memory of Professor Yaşargil with a piano recital. Mr. Çakmur, winner of the
prestigious Hamamatsu International Piano Competition and one of the brightest
talents of his generation, continues to bring pride to our country — just as
Professor Yaşargil did in his own field. We thank him for lending his art to
this meaningful evening. We will be with him close to one hour.

May Professor Gazi Yaşargil rest in peace, and may his
memory forever guide and inspire future generations.

Thank you.