On April 17, 2003, Dr. Robert C. Atkins, one of the pioneers of complementary medicine in the United States and one of the most famous, successful and enduring nutrition experts of the last 40 years, died in New York City at the age of 72.

Dr. Atkins was the founder of The Atkins Center for Complementary Medicine and Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. He also authored more than a dozen health and nutrition books, including Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution, one of the 50 best-selling books of all time, and Atkins for Life. Released earlier this year, Atkins for Life quickly joined Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution on The New York Times bestseller list. The cause of death was related to head trauma from an accident that occurred while Dr. Atkins was on his way to work.

The serious snowstorm that hit New York City the day before the incident, along with unseasonably cold temperatures, left streets and sidewalks slippery. As was his daily habit, Dr. Atkins walked from his home to his office, a distance of about one mile. At approximately 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 8, 2003, he fell and hit his head, suffering severe head trauma. Keith Berkowitz, M.D., a colleague at The Atkins Center for Complementary Medicine, was arriving at work at the same time, and was able to rush Dr. Atkins to the hospital within minutes. The doctors at the hospital emergency room determined that Dr. Atkins had suffered a subdural hematoma and that surgery was required to remove the blood clot from his brain. He survived for several days but eventually succumbed to complications.

I want to share with you all, some of the things that our visitors have written about their feelings about Dr. Atkins, and what he (and his work) meant to them. So many lives changed. So many saved. I'll start with my own thoughts...

From Me (Lora):

How do you say thank you to a man that saved your life? How do you say goodbye?

A little over four years ago, I was in pretty bad shape. I weighed 144 pounds more than I do today. I was sick; I was exhausted; I was in pain. Each day was a struggle to survive. And many days, I was not sure I wanted to.

I'd been following doctors' advice for years. Taking all the meds they gave me; taking extras to cover the symptoms brought on by those prescribed in the last round. And giving it my all to stay on a low fat diet. Yet each day drained more of the life from me.

In a last ditch effort to save my own life, I searched for an answer outside what I'd been told. Grasping for straws? Searching for a miracle? Yes, most likely. But I remembered my experiences with Dr. Atkins' Revolution so many years ago. What did I have to lose?

I guess that was the whole point. I put all my faith and trust in one man's theories. Theories that had struck a chord in me. And so it began... Following the path set out for me by Dr. Robert Atkins, I began to see a light at the end of this dark and hopeless tunnel. The more I learned and put into practice, the stronger I became.

The rest you know... I am no longer obese; no longer that frightened fat girl with no future. I no longer need medications; and I no longer live in fear, pain, or loneliness. I am strong, healthy, happy, and loved. And to deny that I owe a huge debt of gratitude to a man I never met, would be an arrogant lack of appreciation.

Dr. Atkins saved me, as he saved countless others. No words can ever express my utter thankfulness for allowing me to live to see my life become so happy; so fulfilled; so rich with hope, opportunity, and love.

Your legacy lives in each of us who remember you, Dr. A. And in each of our hearts that beat a little stronger because you lived.