Jean Jacques was known by all as JJ. His passing represents a loss to all of us, but his spirit will live on with all of those who knew him. His qualities embraced his family and professional lives, and serve as an example to all - his support of, and commitment to ICS spanned half a century. He also made enormous contributions to Belgian and World Urology which changed the lives of, not only those patients he met during his long working life, but also those who will be treated in the future.
JJ’s publication record describes his professional life which has continued until now: he has had 10 publications in the last two years. Few can match his academic productivity well beyond his official retirement date into his mid 70s. His first paper in 1980 described the considerable value of clean intermittent catheterisation to a large number of patients. It was written with his characteristic thoroughness and exemplified his intellectual honesty which he believed was a mandatory quality for anyone carrying out research and publishing their findings. He went on to publish over 500 papers. One month ago, his last paper was published on the effects of spinal cord injury on the urinary tract of ageing men, and is written with colleagues in Canada, Switzerland, and Germany. This paper illustrates his life-long interest in the neurogenic bladder, and also the multitude of successful collaborations he has had with colleagues all over the world.
He has brought his energies and skills to ICS over a very long period. He has been a member of ICS for almost 45 years and he presented his first ICS paper 40 years ago. In the years that followed, he presented papers, chaired innumerable courses and played an increasing role in guiding ICS into the 21st Century. He was the key person that put ICS on a firm and successful footing. He was ICS Treasurer from 1997 to 2006 and ensured that the best governance processes were in place as ICS changed radically in the early 2000s. These, and other changes he made, meant that ICS could build and expand on a firm financial basis. His commitment was ongoing and he is still listed as a current member of the ICS Ethics Committee.
It is important that we also recognise that he helped to build urology in his own country. He introduced new methods of treatment and led quality improvements in the treatment and rehabilitation of neurological patients. He was recognised for these invaluable contributions by Belgium and made a Knight in the Order of Leopold in 1997 and Grand Officer in the Order of the Crown in 2014. These are highly prestigious awards. Internationally, he taught extensively particularly in Asia where he has many friends.
JJ’s accomplishments are too numerous to mention without “writing a book”. Those of us who worked with him closely will remember him as a totally reliable friend and colleague. We all valued his consistent, intelligent and critical approach to all he was involved in. His success was built on his view that things had to be done properly or they would fail. He would always challenge those who suggested otherwise. He was correct, and hence was a powerful influence on friends and foes alike! He was a devoted family man and sorely missed his wife Marie-Louise after she passed away. They had one child Michel who with Cathy gave him two grandsons. Perhaps uniquely, his son Michel, as most of you will know, has followed in his father’s footsteps.
JJ, we thank you for all you have done for ICS, for the legacies you have left us, and for the patients worldwide who have benefitted from the many advances that you have been responsible for. Your spirit will keep us on the straight and narrow.
Paul Abrams 14th May 2026
In recognition of his extraordinary lifetime of service and contribution to ICS and international urology, Jean-Jacques was selected to receive the prestigious ICS Lifetime Achievement Award at ICS 2026 in Maastricht. His son Michel will receive the award on his behalf posthumously and honour his remarkable legacy.