MARCH 31, 2007, was a very dark day for many in the field of traumatic brain injury rehabilitation. At the age of 58, Dr Mitchell Rosenthal passed away unexpectedly following cardiac surgery. Although Mitch had been ill for some time, many of us did not expect that our lives would go on without him. Mitch, as we called him, was a visionary leader. A founding editor of the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation (JHTR), he was also a founding editor of the seminal textbook Rehabilitation of the Adult and Child With Traumatic Brain Injury. Mitch had a major leadership role in the development of the field of rehabilitation psychology and the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research-funded Traumatic Brain Injury Model System. Mitch was also the primary organizer of the first international conference on traumatic brain injury rehabilitation, first held in Virginia in 1977 and continuing on as an annual conference in Williamsburg, approaching a 34th year.

Mitch Rosenthal's loss was not simply a professional one. For us, Mitch was a close personal friend. He was an advisor, a sounding board, and a supporter. Mitch's friendship was extended to many, many people and he was well liked. He very much enjoyed being a teacher and served informally and formally as a mentor to experienced and beginning professionals. Many people remember his great intellect, his willingness to help, and his warm smile.

We have struggled for some time to find the best ways to honor the memory of a gifted individual who meant so much to so many. More than 8 months ago, we were contacted by Bruce Caplan, John D. Corrigan, and Nathaniel H. Mayer-JHTR editors-with the idea of developing a Gedenkschrift, a special memorial issue. We are grateful to them for allowing us the opportunity to do so.

The topics in this issue are areas that were of special interest for Mitch Rosenthal, areas he recognized as important, and areas that he encouraged others to study. Mitch published a number of important articles relating to families, depression, community integration, and cultural issues. He was very interested in epidemiology, public policy, outcomes, and promoting research progress as a leader in the Traumatic Brain Injury Model System program.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the authors in this special issue for their hard work, creativity, and willingness to contribute their time and effort. Many of our authors are gifted leaders in the field who knew Mitch well and whose lives were touched and enhanced by him. In conclusion, Mitch's loss was undoubtedly a personal and professional one. We hope that readers are inspired by the work herein in the same way that Mitch encouraged many of us to be thoughtful, wise, creative, and caring.

-Jeffrey S. Kreutzen, PhD, ABPP, FACRM

-Juan C. Arango-Lasprilla, PhD

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical College of Virginia Campus, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia