Lloyd F. Novick MD, MPH: Public Health Pioneer

It has been said, "We remember how someone made us feel long after we forget what they might have said." I know that I will long remember how Lloyd made me feel: understood, respected, and valued. I know that his many colleagues throughout the public health community have experienced similar feelings from having the privilege of working with Lloyd. I also recall his pioneering spirit. Quite some time ago, he championed the idea of what became known as the Guide to Community Preventive Services. He along with other colleagues, including Ron Bialek, came to CDC advocating for something new which could serve as a companion to the Guide to Clinical Preventive Services. I must admit that I failed to see the wisdom of Lloyd's ideas regarding the Community Guide. Nevertheless, through a combination of patience and persistence, that idea came to life. The Community Guide continues to serve the public health community to this day. Clearly, his visionary leadership looked far beyond what many of us were unable to visualize – a sign of his exceptional talents as a public health leader who could see farther into the future than most of us could. Later, when he championed the idea of a scholarly journal designed to serve both academics and practitioners, his careful nurturing of that concept led to the extraordinarily successful Journal of Public Health Management and Practice (JPHMP), which he led for 3 decades as editor-in-chief. Now, JPHMP has become required reading for the public health community, particularly for front-line public health leaders, who choose to read JPHMP as the "go to" journal with direct relevance to the challenges and opportunities they face daily. The journal was a "Labor of Love" for Lloyd. He loved doing the work required to assure readers of the quality of journal publications. He also loved those with whom he worked to assure the journal's impact. Along these lines, Lloyd knew that he needed to leave JPHMP in able hands and he did so by selecting and mentoring Justin Moore and Sheryl Monks who will now carry on the mantle of leadership, which Lloyd wore so well for decades. I was most fortunate that Lloyd was my partner in the Management Moment leadership column series in JPHMP; he consistently acknowledged the value of what we were doing together and was a true joy to work with. As so many of us in our rich public health community feel the sadness of Lloyd's passing, we will also "count our blessings" as we reflect on our time with him. He was always caring and respectful, bringing out the best in his many colleagues across the public health community. I always listened for what Lloyd had to say. He was typically not the first to speak, but he always had something to say when he did speak. And I particularly loved hearing his delightful voice when he did so; I really liked his accent. I will miss him very much and cherish the memories of the times in which I had the true pleasure and privilege of working with him. He leaves an extraordinary legacy of dedicated service to the health of the public which will inspire us all for generations to come. The world is a better place for the many gifts that Lloyd shared with all of us. We are better people for having been nurtured, understood, and inspired by Lloyd Novick.