We note with great sadness the untimely death of Dr. Stephen Mitchell. Only fifty-four years old, Steve was at the height of his powers and continually adding to his already major contribution to our field. He was one of the originators of the relational perspective in psychoanalysis, which has become an important trend in contemporary theory. Apart from offering his own ideas, however, Steve was devoted to the discipline of comparative psychoanalysis: studying the virtues and limitations of a plurality of psychoanalytic theories, juxtaposing them in a spirit of open inquiry for purposes of dialectical advancement. He founded Psychoanalytic Dialogues as a forum in which this discourse could take place. Steve was the most generative of psychoanalysts. He helped establish and nurture study groups and institutes all over the world; and he was never too busy to look over an early draft or to consult with a colleague about a clinical problem. We will miss him badly and we will feel his influence for a long time to come.