Communication/review Biomath 1 (2012), 1209303, 1–2 B f Volume ░, Number ░, 20░░ BIOMATH ISSN 1314-684X Editor–in–Chief: Roumen Anguelov B f BIOMATH h t t p : / / w w w . b i o m a t h f o r u m . o r g / b i o m a t h / i n d e x . p h p / b i o m a t h / Biomath Forum Farewell Speech: Stefan Dodunekov (1945–2012) Dear mournful family and all present, We are here to bow and to send to his eternal rest the President of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences— Academician Stefan Manev Dodunekov. We have come to share together the enormous loss every one of us has suffered. The family lost their loving and caring father and husband, the mathematical community lost one of its brightest and most active members, the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences lost one of its hopes for a better and more successful development, Bulgaria lost one quiet, but uncompromising patriot. After he was elected President of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Stefan invited me in his office as being the director of the Institute of Mathematics and Informatics to discuss about what has happened and about what needs to be done. He told me that for him the most difficult moment in his preparation for the election was to take the decision to run for a president of BAS. At that moment, I didn’t pay much attention to this statement, but he was not in the habit to say needless things. Now, when I come back to our conversation, I realize that he didn’t simply want to be just the next President of the BAS. Stefan was aware of the difficult situation in which the BAS was and that his mission was to help it by all means. He has taken his decision with difficulty but once he has taken it, he put all his efforts to realize his program.He mobilized all his forces to the extreme. He was very encouraged and optimistic due to the really good attitude towards him shown by the Bulgarian President—Mr. Plevneliev, by the Prime Minister Dr. Borisov and by the Minister Prof. Ignatov. This really inspired him. Regretfully, the newly elected President of BAS didn’t get similar attitude by the General Assembly of the BAS. Academician Dodunekov was blamed by the General Assembly, when he proposed his deputies team. This was an unexpected and perfidious blow. In the day when he was stricken by the fatal disease, Academician Dodunekov had appointment with three ministers to discuss the specific details of the co-operation with the BAS. He could not attend this meeting. He burned as a sacrificial lamb at the stake. Academician Dodunekov had to preside over the meeting of academicians in the upcoming election of new academicians and corresponding members of the BAS. His desire was to have more young and active members of the Academy. After his unexpected death, this becomes a must for us. In this way, the General Assembly of the BAS will enable to choose a worthy successor. With the death of Academician Dodunekov we lost one of the hopes for a better future of the BAS. We are not able, no matter how much we would like that, to bring back to life Stefan. But we can bring back and fulfill this hope! http://dx.doi.org/10.11145/j.biomath.2012.09.303 Page 1 of 2 http://www.biomathforum.org/biomath/index.php/biomath http://dx.doi.org/10.11145/j.biomath.2012.09.303 B. Sendov, Farewell Speech: Stefan Dodunekov (1945–2012) For less than two months, Academician Dodunekov proved that the main problem of the BAS does not come from outside. The main problem of the BAS is within the Academy itself and it can be solved only by its own resources. According to the present law, the General Assembly of the BAS is the main governing body of the Academy. This democratic achievement, dating from the beginning of the Bulgarian democratic transition, with the time deteriorated and in essence it lead to a complete isolation of the members of the Academy from taking decisions about its development. It is our national and professional duty, our duty to the memory of Academician Dodunekov, to build a new image of the BAS, which should serve our country Bulgaria for its spiritual development, as well as for its prosperity. Farewell Stefan! We will not forget you! We will not forget you and your hope! Rest in peace! Academician Blagovest Sendov Bulgarian Academy of Sciences 8 August 2012 The speech in Bulgarian is available at: http://www.bas.bg/fce/001/0079/files/Prostalno.pdf Biomath 1 (2012), 1209303, http://dx.doi.org/10.11145/j.biomath.2012.09.303 Page 2 of 2 http://www.bas.bg/fce/001/0079/files/Prostalno.pdf http://dx.doi.org/10.11145/j.biomath.2012.09.303