Died, Joseph J. Lhoest, 68

Joseph Lhoest, prominent Belgian mineral collector and author, was born June 27, 1934 in Liege, Belgium and died April 27, 2003. He attended medical school at the University of Liege and received his M.D. degree there in general surgery. In 1963 he was recruited by Union Miniere du Haut Katanga mining company to work in their company hospitals in the Belgian Congo (later called Zaire and currently known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo). He initially served in hospitals and infirmaries near the East Group and Central Group mines at Likasi, Kipushi, Lubumbashi, Kakanda and Kambove, but spent most of his career (in the 1970's and 1980's) at the large hospital at Kolwezi, near the West Group of famous mines, including the Musonoi, Kamoto, Mutoshi, Mupine, Dikuluwe and Mashamba East and West mines.

During these years Joseph and his wife, Marcelline, became fascinated with minerals and almost immediately became enthusiastic mineral collectors. They and their sons would...