Dr. Theodore H. Maiman invented the laser on May 16, 1960. This invention opened a new era of discoveries and inventions and is considered one of the most important inventions of 20th century. In 1999 Maiman arrived in Vancouver; he joined Simon Fraser University in 2001. Besides helping in designing photonics courses in the new biomedical engineering program he continued researching the possibility of making a highly efficient vertical start airplane.  In May 2007 Maiman died of systemic mastocytosis, leaving behind him a legacy which proved again that ancient Horatio’s “Non omnis moriar” is correct in exceptional cases.