Renate Lüllmann-Rauch was born on December 29, 1941, in Neumünster and graduated from the Kieler Gelehrtenschule with her Abitur in 1961. She studied medicine in Kiel and Basel until 1967. Her doctoral research, conducted between 1964 and 1965 under the supervision of Professor Ohnesorge, a toxicologist in Kiel, focused on "Peristaltic Studies of the Intestine in the European Perch". On April 1, 1970, she became a scientific assistant at the Institute of Anatomy at the Christian-Albrechts-University in Kiel. Six years later, she habilitated and was appointed "Lecturer at a University of Applied Sciences." In 1982, she was appointed Associate Professor (apl.), and in 1992, she achieved a permanent academic position as a Senior Lecturer (C2). She celebrated her 40th anniversary in academia in 2001 and officially retired on March 31, 2007.
Renate Lüllmann-Rauch is best known to anatomists in the German-speaking world for her textbook "Histologie" (Thieme Verlag), which has been published in seven editions. This book has not only been a milestone in the histological education of generations of medical students but has also served as an essential resource for continued professional development in histology for anatomists of all ages. Renate Lüllmann-Rauch had a unique talent for presenting complex concepts with clarity and accessibility, ensuring they were comprehensible for both novice and experienced readers while remaining aligned with the latest research. She often spent hours perfecting a single paragraph to achieve this balance. For those who worked directly with her, Renate Lüllmann-Rauch was not only a colleague, but also a role model, mentor, and teacher. She was deeply committed to maintaining the highest standards in anatomical science and academia, holding herself to the strictest personal and professional expectations and demanding the same from students, colleagues, assistants, and staff.
Beyond her exceptional teaching and pedagogical skills, Renate Lüllmann-Rauch was a renowned morphologist. She dedicated her research to the study of lysosomal storage diseases, publishing numerous influential papers on the topic. Her morphological expertise was highly valued by researchers in other disciplines, and she contributed significant findings to many prestigious publications from other research groups. Renate Lüllmann-Rauch also had a passion for classical music, playing both the cello and horn. She enjoyed birdwatching during long walks around her vacation home in Kappeln, Schleswig-Holstein.
Renate Lüllmann-Rauch passed away on November 13, 2024, after a brief, severe illness.
The Anatomische Gesellschaft mourns not only the loss of an honorary member but also the passing of a great morphologist and anatomist. Until her final years, she remained intellectually curious and engaged, driven by a desire to deeply understand the subjects she researched and taught, and to share her acquired knowledge with others. The Anatomische Gesellschaft will always honor her memory.
Esther Asan, Würzburg and the Secretary of the Anatomische Gesellschaft, Friedrich Paulsen, on behalf of the Board
