Abstract: The laudation of the dead is a form of prayer for them(Machado de Assis, Brazilian writer) Sami Arap was born in São Paulo, Brazil. He was the son of a Syrian immigrant, from Antioquia, who made his living as a tailor. Although not rich, his father was able to pay for Sami's secondary study at a renowned school in the city. At 19 years of age he was admitted to the University of São Paulo Medical School. During his medical studies, he excelled not only academically but also in sports, and took part in the water polo team. After graduation, he began residency in the Surgical Clinic of the recently inaugurated teaching hospital of the Medical School. After completing the surgical residency period, Sami was enrolled in the staff of the Surgical Clinic. In 1962, he traveled to Paris, where he held an internship for a year at the Urological Clinic of the Necker Hospital, under Professor Roger Couvelaire. There, his initial interest was renal vascular surgery, renal transplantation, and the treatment of bladder tumors. He also started to follow the activities of the Pediatric Urology group, then led by Dr. Jacob Cukier. This was a revealing period for him, as it got him interested in the developing subspecialty of pediatric urology. After this period in Paris, he decided to further expand his knowledge in this field and took the opportunity to spend some time in Prof. Willi Gregoir's clinic in Brussels, where he engaged in studies related to VUR and the anti-reflux procedures, as well reconstructive genital techniques. On his return to the University Hospital in São Paulo in 1963, Sami requested his transfer from the Surgical to the Urologic Clinic of the University Hospital. The chief of the Urologic Clinic, Professor Campos Freire, was then convinced by Sami, as well as by Dr. Alfredo Cabral, another surgeon turned urologist with experience in pediatric procedures acquired abroad, that pediatric urology would be a promising field for the then expanding Urologic Clinic. Campos Freire then established the first pediatric urology unit in Brazil, which began its activities under the direction of Alfredo Cabral. Being younger and more academically active than Cabral, Sami helped to give this unit a well-known reputation, disseminating the emerging concepts of pediatric urology to urologists and pediatricians, not only in Brazil but also in South America. In 1972, Cabral left the Urologic Clinic, and Sami became the chief of the unit. His interest at the time focused on bladder exstrophy, a field that had not had much attention up to that point. He began pioneering work with these children, proposing an innovative three-step treatment (initial non-refluxing cutaneous ureterosigmoidostomy, followed by bladder reconfiguration and closure of the abdominal defect with inguinal flaps, and completed with anastomosis of the bladder to the sigmoid associated to closure of the cutaneous stoma), that had intense scientific repercussions. His research activity also resulted in a doctoral thesis (Surgical Treatment of Primary Vesico-Ureteral Reflux by the Gregoir Technique) in 1971 and a professorial thesis (Surgical Treatment of Urinary Incontinence Associated with Epispadias by the techniques of Leadbetter and Tanagho) in 1976. By this time, he had met a young anesthesiologist at the university hospital, fell in love and shortly married her. Astrid became his companion for life. The development of the Pediatric Urology Unit generated considerable scientific production in the areas of bladder exstrophy, epispadias, hypospadias, VUR, and renovascular hypertension. Sami started to receive invitations from many urological centers around the world to visit and lecture to them. He also became a member of many national and international urological societies, and his friendly and enthusiastic personality helped him consolidate contacts with many leaders in pediatric urology. His scientific leadership was recognized in the Congress of the American Confederation of Urology (CAU), held in Santiago, Chile in 1974, during which the Latin American Society of Pediatric Urology (SLAUI), affiliated to the CAU, was founded. Sami was elected as its new president, by acclamation, and served two terms. In 1995, this society also aggregated pediatric surgeons of Latin America and Spain, and changed its name, becoming the Iberoamerican Society of Pediatric Urology (SIUP). In 1986, after a public contest, Sami became Full Professor and Chief of the Urologic Clinic at the University Hospital, taking responsibility for all urological activities, including adult and pediatric urology, and renal transplantation. His administration was characterized by the modernization of the service, both functionally and academically. In 1987, a postgraduate program in urology was initiated, representing a marked improvement in the training of researchers and professors in all fields of urology. Nevertheless, even after involving himself (successfully) with adult urology and transplantation, his passion remained in pediatric urology, where he introduced new concepts in the treatment of hypospadias, neurogenic bladder, and renal transplantation in children. He especially stressed the importance of endourology and laparoscopy; the Pediatric Urology Unit became a pioneer in these techniques. More than 200 scientific papers were published by the Urologic Clinic during his administration. As professor, Sami also placed an important emphasis on international exchange, not only through his travels to renowned urologic services in North America and Europe as a visiting professor, but also by inviting many national and foreign professors to visit the Urologic Clinic and the Pediatric Urology Unit, as well as to participate in local urological congresses. His generous hospitality always impressed his guests. He stimulated and, through his contacts, helped his assistants obtain fellowships in foreign services. He also provided a regular international exchange program for the urology residents through an agreement with the Mayo Clinic of Jacksonville, USA, granting each a 2-month internship at that institution starting in January 1994. After his compulsory retirement from the University Hospital in 2004, Sami remained active in his practice. He became the leader and spokesman of the urologists at a renowned private hospital in São Paulo, where he regularly worked until his death. Sami had many qualities, and his success can be credited to study, perseverance, leadership, friendship, an amazing personality and, of course, some amount of luck. He was blessed with a happy family life, being survived by Astrid, one son (who is also a successful urologist), two daughters, and eight grandchildren. Most importantly, being a talented and inspirational leader, he was able to form a solid group of urologists, including many dedicated to pediatric urology, who will carry on his legacy and miss him dearly.