Peter Matter (1932–2026): Tributes from across the AO community
Following the passing of Prof Dr Peter Matter, the AO Foundation published an obituary reflecting on his life, leadership, and enduring contribution to the organization and to orthopedic care worldwide.
The tributes collected here build on that remembrance. They bring together personal reflections from across the AO community—founders, past and current leaders, colleagues, collaborators, and friends—who were shaped by Peter Matter’s guidance, integrity, and commitment to education, innovation, and service.
Taken together, these reflections offer a deeply personal perspective on a man whose influence extended far beyond his formal roles, and whose legacy continues to resonate within the AO and the wider medical community.
AO Foundation Founders
Between Christmas and Easter (skiing season), we were unusually busy, admitting several fracture patients per day often requiring ORIF. As residents we spent many hours—mostly at night—assisting the three senior surgeons holding retractors. Lags screw and neutralization plate for tibia torsion fracture was the rule, strictly adhering to the AO Principles. Allgöwer and Matter pioneered this still quite new technique. To handle two to three tibia ORIF per night required great discipline and an excellent team of anesthesia, which made sure that the interval between operations was no longer than 30 minutes.
Peter handled and coordinated all these tasks with great skills and foresight as well as diplomacy—qualities, which he would very much need in his later AO career. Peter was a great leader, respected by all who met him.
Thomas P Rüedi, MD
Founding Member, AO Foundation
AO Presidents
Mark D Markel
AO President
It is with great sorrow that I acknowledge the passing of Peter Matter, a good friend and mentor. Our paths first crossed at the Jubilee AO Davos Courses in December 1985. From that moment, Peter stood out as an accessible AO icon who bridged the gap between generations. He was young enough to be approachable by residents yet held the seniority to provide valuable advice in situations where one might hesitate to consult the other founders. One particular event that remains vivid in my memory is his calm professionalism during a publicly performed operation. After a statistically unavoidable skiing accident involving one of the Davos Course participants, Peter carried out not only one surgery, which was broadcast live from Davos hospital directly into the large lecture hall at the Congress Centre. These remarkable events were attended by both participants and faculty, making it an unforgettable experience for all.
Over the years, our friendship deepened as we discussed the direction and future of our organization. Serving together in the AcC and AOVA, with him as president and board member, Peter was always a reliable partner in overcoming the challenges faced by the AO. He was a wonderful companion in setting new directions and a humble colleague who celebrated others' successes even as his own achievements came to fruition.
Even in his later years, Peter remained intellectually engaged with a sharp mind. He continued to contribute meaningfully, often helping simply by asking the right questions. His presence and insight were invaluable to those around him.
With Peter's passing, I have lost a friend and mentor, and the AO has lost one of its founding icons and visionaries. It is now our duty to carry forward his spirit, energy, and forward-looking attitude for generations to come.
Tim Pohlemann
AO Immediate Past President (2023–25)
Peter and the 50th anniversary movie: when the AO Foundation Board decided to produce an anniversary video, the production team was defined by Peter, Robin, and me. Peter agreed immediately to be part of the creator team. He accepted the challenge to produce an animated video featuring the founders' characters. Without his detailed memories, we would never have been able to tell the story of the AO's beginning and evolution. I remember the days in Davos, sitting together and giving the founders a voice and message like yesterday. Peter helped to save the history of the AO! We all miss him as we lost a friend and true AO Bristlecone tree.
Florian Gebhard
AO Past President (2021–23)
It has been a distinct honor for me to have been able to associate with Peter during our time with the AO Foundation. He provided me with sage advice regarding the Foundation when I was elected as AO President, which served me well during my tenure. I always looked forward to visiting him at our meetings in Davos, as he always greeted me with that warm smile and kind demeanor. He will be missed!
Robert McGuire
AO Past President (2018–21)
Peter Matter was in many ways a typical Swiss citizen, always with a well-pondered opinion, but very humble and with a fine sense of humor. He had a natural understanding of political contexts and tactical skills to often find pragmatic solutions. Even though the Davos hospital is a rather small one even for Swiss standards, these characteristics made him a highly acknowledged and respected leader amongst his peers in Switzerland. He was serving in numerous boards of national associations for surgery and trauma care and was elected as president of the Swiss Association for Traumatology and Insurance Medicine (SGTV/1988–90) as well as the Swiss Society of Surgery (SGC/SSC 1992–94). Personally, I will always remember when he invited a group of other young colleagues and me to moderate scientific sessions at the annual congress of the Swiss Surgical Society, a privilege that had so far been reserved for the well-established heads of clinics. One could even say he put Access into action decades before it was re-invented by the AO! Other memorable experiences were the times I was asked as a junior attending physician in Basel to cover as deputy head of the Davos hospital when he and Peter Holzach were absent for a long weekend or so. During these days, I was privileged not only to utilize the up-to-date equipment of this jewel hospital but also to experience the great team spirit Matter had built up over the years in the OR as well as on the wards. In short, Peter Matter was a role model not only in his many various positions in the AO but also for generations of Swiss surgeons. He will be missed.
Nikolaus Renner
AO Past President (2016–18)
Prof Matter had contributed plentifully to the AO, an organization that he had belonged to since the beginning. Thousands of surgeons and millions of patients have obtained tremendous benefits from his hard and dedicated work throughout his engagement with the AO. During his active years, he traveled to many different countries around the world to teach AO courses. There were many initiatives and projects within the AO that he had started and supported, such as AO Publishing and the AO Surgery Reference. He dedicated himself to the AO without asking what he would gain. Personally, Prof Matter was the main role model for me, and a real AO surgeon. He was indeed my inspiration as a great leader, a great mentor, and a highly qualified surgeon. I will always remember the wonderful time that we shared and will continue to follow a lot of his guidance. His great dedication and AO spirit are the model for the next generation of trauma surgeons to follow. Losing Prof Matter is one of the deepest sorrows for me, my AO colleagues, and all orthopedic surgeons who knew him. His goodness, wisdom, and teaching will be the precious legacy that he leaves for us.
Suthorn Bavonratanavech
AO Past President (2014–16)
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Apart from his extraordinary contribution and excellence as a surgeon educator in the days of AO International in a moment of fast growth of the organization in the different global regions, Peter was an exceptional, authentic, and inspiring leader. During some difficult challenges the AO faced during his term as AO President, he led the organization with a calm, firm grip, building trust and confidence around him. A man for all seasons, he always remained true to his principles while maintaining unwavering integrity despite changing circumstances and pressures. Peter became a true mentor and trusted friend who strongly influenced my personal life and career.
Jaime Quintero
AO Past President (2012–14)
Peter Matter was the heart and soul of the AO Foundation in Davos, his home and place of work. He took care of everything, even if it brought no fame or glory. He was the caretaker, the mediator, the mentor, the teacher, the role model, the fighter, the traditionalist, the avant-gardist, the perfectionist, the rock in the storm, the fatherly friend—he embodied the AO like no other. He will forever be a part of AO history.
Norbert P Haas
AO Past President (2010–12)
The passing of Peter Matter quietly extinguishes a light that anyone who knew him appreciated and cherished for so many years. Those of us who consistently benefited from his wisdom and judgment are deeply grateful for his counsel and perspective.
Having been fortunate to serve in several governing bodies of the AO Foundation, I was both fortunate and grateful for his knowledge. He made my life and career more effective and fulfilling. While we have had many prominent leaders in the AO, there are a few who reach his stature in thought, governance, and character.
I am profoundly in his debt for the ways he constantly helped me to have better judgment, patience, and guidance to follow good principles of international participation and leadership. Only a few people in this life will reach his stature and achievement.
He made a respected difference in all that he did, and we all (especially myself) are very fortunate and grateful to have enjoyed and benefited from who he was and what he did.
Paul Manson
AO Past President (2008–10)
Since Peter Matter attended the very first course in Davos in 1960, he played a prominent role in the AO through a variety of leadership roles, culminating in his election as President of the AO Foundation in 2000. This made him a walking archive of the AO’s history, a source of personal stories and amazing anecdotes.
Peter Matter was “ein Davoser.” He was the natural liaison between the ambitious and demanding AO organization, the community of Davos, and the local authorities.
I will remember him as my Mister AO, a humble, wise, and inspiring mentor, and, last but not least, as a warm personal friend.
Chris van der Werken
AO Past President (2006–08)
I first met Peter in January 1980, when I started my fellowship at the Kantonsspital and the AO Research Institute in Davos. He immediately welcomed me and made me feel like a member of the team. His teaching techniques were very interesting. He was not a dogmatic, demanding, principled person, but one who taught by example. He would ask open-ended questions, expect you to think and react, and then very diplomatically explain why the AO method was best. He was a master surgeon, and it was a true privilege to watch him operate.
As my AO career expanded, I learned more about Peter and realized how important he was to the overall AO initiative. Quietly leading by example and understanding what was needed for the AO to be relevant for both the present and future. I soon realized that Peter was the AO guide, leading us to the right decisions and ensuring the future of the AO. His calm personality, thoughtful commentary, and visionary thinking led to many of the changes required to keep the AO Foundation and its mission going.
Peter was also a family man, both for his own family and for those of us who had the opportunity to have our families in his care. He was always interested in what was happening with your families and was very supportive of including them in the AO.
Peter’s friendly smile and quiet demeanor will be missed; his legacy, his vision, and his voice of guidance will always be remembered.
James Kellam
AO Past President (2004–06)
Peter Matter was a shining example of the perfect teacher, surgeon, mentor, educator, and AO Foundation President. His legacy and impact on the AO will always be remembered and has inspired a new generation of leaders. From a personal perspective, he greatly influenced me, my views on the AO, and has motivated me to want to be more involved.
Jeff Wang
AO President-Elect
AO employees
Claas Albers
CEO and Vice-Chair of the AO Foundation
What is loved is never lost. Peter will live on in our memory at the AO and in Davos, and in the hearts of those who have had the honor of spending time with this very special and humble person. Peter (along with Stephan Perren and Thomas Rüedi) supported me in becoming the Director of ARI, having faith in me. Peter closely ensured I stayed not only on the right track within the AO, but also checked regularly what voluntary duties I was taking on for Davos and the canton, which were close to his heart. I knew Peter for over three decades, and he not only supported and mentored me in his own humble way by checking what I was up to, but also was a dear friend. I will miss him greatly, and though he has physically gone, he is still here with conversations with me in my memory.
Geoff Richards
Director, AO Research Institute Davos
Executive Director AO R&D
Dear Peter, you are no longer with us—and we are deeply saddened. Yet you live on in our thoughts. We were fortunate to share many wonderful moments together and owe you so much. You were always inspiring and full of enthusiasm in everything you did. The beautiful memories remain with us. As a role model, you shaped our lives for many years, and for that we are profoundly grateful. Rest in peace.
Claudio and Mary Gubser
Retired AO employees
In the years 1969–70, I worked at the ARI on Peter Matter’s habilitation project: an animal study involving sheep fitted with measuring plates attached to the bone. In an old barn where the operated sheep were cared for, we had to carry out measurements on the implanted animals. For this task, Peter Matter bought us orange overalls. On the way to the barn, he would greet all colleagues—just like a road worker, as they too wore orange overalls.
Later, in 1974 and 1975, I filled in as an operating room nurse at Spital Davos and came to appreciate Peter Matter as Head of Surgery, especially in the operating theatre. His pleasant, clear, and deeply humane manner has remained with me ever since.
Vreni Geret
Retired AO employee
The AO is built on trust and friendship—a culture that Peter embodied. He was my mentor, friend, and advisor whenever I presented him with new projects or ideas. I also admired him for his management style and the goal-oriented strategies he consistently chose, which, thanks to him, always led to successful outcomes for us and remain in place to this day. These include the anniversary edition of the AO Center, as well as public relations work, support for young talent—AO courses and visits to the AO Center for prospective Davos high school graduates—and a science trail with information boards about the AO Foundation across from the AO Center. Another highlight was our response to the compliance regulations that called into question Davos as the appropriate venue for the AO courses. To address this, we, as private individuals, assumed the rights as publishers of a small cultural and hiking guide to Davos, updated the edition, added a new chapter on science and research, and subsequently produced an updated edition in English.
At 92, Peter recorded Peter Matter’s AO Journey, a two-part video from his home and Davos roads. Completed in 2024 with his input and, on his wish, with my support for historical images, it vividly recounts the AO’s history through his eyes.
Peter passed away on April 22, 2026, on my birthday—a day when we lost a truly remarkable and unique person whose legacy we owe so much to, both today and in the future.
Jürgen Staiger
Retired AO employee
I had my job interview with Peter Matter almost 30 years ago, and he was my first supervisor at the AO Foundation. He was a strong and composed leader, always in a good mood, with a keen eye for both employees and finances. Through his calm demeanor and strong network, he built trust and left a lasting impact on the working environment. To mark the end of his tenure as President of AO International, he gave all of us the opportunity to attend an AO Course abroad. I had the chance to go to Moscow at the time, which was an absolute highlight for me—something I will never forget.
Isabella Badrutt
AO employee
I met Peter Matter 30 years ago, when he was my first boss at the AO. From the very beginning of my professional AO journey, his leadership, guidance, and human approach left a strong impression on me and had a lasting impact. I will always remember him with gratitude and respect, and I am very thankful for the wonderful time I had working with him and the entire team during those years. His memory will live on, and he will be deeply missed.
Esther Segessenmann
AO employee
Other friends and collaborators
I first came to know and appreciate Peter Matter in Davos in 1973. Over many years, we engaged in insightful discussions—both in the context of educational activities and within the AO’s governing bodies. From the very beginning, he was a highly knowledgeable representative of trauma surgery in the commissions, while always remaining attentive to us as a manufacturer.
With a balanced and fair manner, he knew how to represent both perspectives within the organization objectively. Our collaboration was consistently characterized by mutual respect and appreciation.
I thank Peter for the many fruitful conversations we shared over decades of working together within the AO.
In grateful remembrance,
Robert Mathys Jr
I have known Peter for around 40 years. What brought us closely together were the negotiations with Synthes USA regarding the sale of the patents and the Synthes name, as well as the turbulent events in Oslo. I experienced Peter as principled, highly competent, loyal, and with a fine sense of humor. After the meeting in Oslo, he sent me a card depicting a bear lying on an ice floe, accompanied by the words, “the bear is resting.”
We remained in contact through meetings and phone calls right up to the present day.
Dr Andrea von Rechenberg
Former AO lawyer
Prof Peter Matter was truly an amazing man with a wonderful family—combining exceptional leadership, strong core values and integrity, surgical excellence, sharp efficiency, and a great sense of humor.
Beyond his focus on quality and performance, Peter taught me early in my career the strategies of “active waiting” and “always keep the conversation going,” even with your greatest enemy, as this person may have the last sip of water in a desert.
Peter Matter will be deeply missed as a wise man, a lifelong teacher, mentor, and friend.
Michael Schuetz
AO Trustee
Peter Matter was not only an excellent surgeon, but also a calm, modest, and at the same time demanding teacher. His natural authority, his humane approach, and his great expertise and experience served as a model for future generations of physicians.
Through his organizational talent, his innovative mindset, and a cultivated team culture, Spital Davos developed under his leadership from a local community hospital into a renowned trauma center. He truly embodied the “Spirit of Spital Davos.”
As his former resident and later partner, he had a profound influence on my professional path. For this, I am very grateful. I miss him.
Peter Holzach
Former Head of Surgery, Spital Davos
With Peter Matter's passing, we have lost not only a visionary leader, a mentor and a friend, but also an outstanding physician and surgeon who loved his patients and fellow human beings.
It is a lasting honor for me to have accompanied him on part of his life's journey.
I will miss him dearly.
Christian Ryf
Former Head of Surgery, Spital Davos
Twelve years ago, Peter Matter asked me whether I would be willing to take over the course for the Schweizerische Alpine Mittelschule in Davos. He explained to me that this event was very close to his heart—it meant a great deal to him to show these students what the AO has accomplished and continues to research today, and what trauma surgery does for patients.
I was able to run the course in my first year under Peter’s guidance. He then handed the event over to me, saying that he was now too old. When he noticed that the course was no longer running quite as smoothly after the COVID years, he called everyone involved to a meeting, asked me about my ideas, and ended the discussion after just a few minutes with the words: “I assume this will work now.”
We accepted the responsibility—and we continue to carry on the course in memory of Peter Matter.
Hans-Curd Frei
Head of Surgery, Spital Davos
As Landammann, I was in close contact with Spital Davos. Prof Dr Peter Matter considered open and constructive relationships with politics to be very important. He consistently placed healthcare in Davos at the highest priority.
Spital Davos was a flagship institution for him—both for the local population and for our congress guests.
Erwin Roffler
Former Landammann (mayor) of Davos
A memorial service in honor of Peter Matter will be held on May 12 at 13:30 at the Reformed Church of St. Johann in Davos.
The burial of the urn will take place at a later date in a private ceremony with his immediate family.