Condolences

From: Diana Coulter

Organization: Kingston University

Condolences

Dear Friends at International Sakharov Institute

All your friends in the International Office at Kingston University are devastated by the news about Alexander. We join you in grief, but at the same time urge everyone both in ISIR and Kingston to be strong in keeping alight the precious flame of freedom and education, which Alexander so bravely lit.

Our thoughts are with you on this solemn occasion, and will be with you in the hard days to come.

Take care, With sincerest good wishes, Diana and colleaguesDate: Fri, 5 Sep 1997 16:05:19 -0400 (EDT) From: Jennifer Rusiecki

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Dear Friends at Sakharov Institute,

I am so sad to hear about the sudden and untimely death of Dr. Lutsko. This is really a great loss, and my prayers are with his family at this very difficult time.

Although I only knew him for a few months this past summer, I had very warm regards for him from the first time we met. He was always so kind to me and very forthright and down to earth. I had such a nice talk with him the day before I left Sakharov Institute. We sat down and had a constructive talk about the institute and about how things could be improved. I think he was always looking for ways to improve things. He was so innovative, and he was stepping into territory uncharted by most Belarussians and Russians, and that was to create an institution of higher education dedicated to interdisciplinary sciences. This is a very modern approach to environmental and epidemiological problems, and it is very much in tune with the most prestigious programs in American universities. His ideas and dreams must NOT fade, and I think the greatest tribute to him would be to continue building up Sakharov Institute and always looking at it critically with a view towards improvement.

I think he was a «no-nonsense,» productive man, who didn’t particularly care about nice words and great promises. He liked to see things getting accomplished and concrete improvements, so I think that in our future dealings with and work at the institute, we should remember that.

Most importantly, however, he was a husband and a father. I do not know his family, but, as I said before, my prayers and thoughts are with them now. I hope that they can find comfort in each other and in knowing that their loved one made a real difference to this world while he was here.

After all, in the end, the one thing that REALLY matters is how many lives you have touched.

Warmest Regards, Jennifer

Date: Mon, 08 Sep 1997 08:37:12 -0700 From: Gerry Kingston

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My very sincere condolences to Alex’s family and all of you at ISIR. A very great shock and an international loss.

Gerry Kingston

Date: Mon, 8 Sep 1997 14:27:59 -0200 (GMT) From: Biopolitics International Organisation

It is with a deep sense of sorrow that I express my condolences to the family of Alexander Lutsko.

Our sharing of common ideals and our effort to create a better world for the next millennium, as well as to ensure the continuity of life on our planet, were always enhanced by his vision and support.

In this short trajectory of life, he contributed light and served as a pillar of values. We pray for him and will always keep him in our hearts.

Agni Vlavianos-Arvanitis and the friends of the Biopolitics International Organisation

Date: Sun, 07 Sep 1997 12:52:43 From: William R. Schell

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To the family of Alexander Lutsko:

What a tragic loss with the untimely death of Alexander Lutsko, Rector and a founder of the International Sakharov Institute on Radioecology. He was a visionary in a difficult position who was completely dedicated to helping and focusing each of his students into creative and worthwhile futures. His dedication to the goals of the Institute could never be questioned and his vigour in pursuing these goals, under the severest economic and political realities in Belarus, can only be admired. His accomplishments in life span many fields of scientific and administrative work including physics, oceanography, ecology, administration and fund raising. He loved having students nearby and provided them with leadership and an example to follow. As a member of the International Advisory Committee, I will miss our many discussions, our field trips into the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone and his continual «can-do» attitude in solving the multitude of problems faced each day. He is a real loss to the Institute, science and education in his country.

We wish to express our sincere condolences to his wife and family.

William and Pauline Schell University of Pittsburgh, USA 7 September 1997

Date: Fri, 5 Sep 1997 08:52:25 From: Mark Dyurgerov

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My deepest condolence to Lera and Tanya and all Institute emploees and students on the occasion of Alexander death….I am just crying…

Mark Dyurgerov

Date: Fri, 05 Sep 1997 18:07:15 From: Dr R.Taylor

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Dear colleagues at ISIR,

We are all stunned and saddened to hear of the sudden and unexpected death of Alexander Lutsko. We have great admiration for the energy and enthusiasm with which he undertook the work of establishing ISIR as a centre for international research in radioecology. All of us here who have visted you or met Alexander here in Britain remember him as a warm and charismatic person. Please extend our sympathy and support to his family.

Dr Ros Taylor and colleagues in the School of Geography, Kingston University, UK

From: M.SAPHERSON

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Organization: The University of Huddersfield HEC

Dear colleagues

I was shocked and saddened to hear of Alexander’s death. Life can seem so fragile.

I’m sure you are all able to deal with the situation and draw strength from Alexander’s achievements.

Best wishes to you and the staff of ISIR.

Thinking of you.

«One should, each day, try to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and, if it is possible, speak a few reasonable words» (Goethe)

Marshall

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From: Victor Belkin

MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCE TO lERA AND TANYA AND ALL INSTITUTE EMPLOEES AND STUDENTS ON THE OCCASION OF SASHA DEATH… WE ARE JUST CRYING..

VICTOR BELKIN

Date: Fri, 5 Sep 1997 19:53:34 From: Lars Rydén

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Dear friends at Sakharov Institute,

I was shocked to hear about the untimely death of our friend Sacha, Alexandre Lutsko. Let me express my deep regret and assure you that we at the Baltic University will keep up our co-operation with you at the Sacharov Institute, a very special child of Alexandre Lutsko. We give you all our support in your hard, but important task of keeping the spirit of the Institute alive in future years, in spite of this terrible loss.

Yours sincerely

Lars Rydén

Date: Mon, 8 Sep 1997 10:53:05 From: Robin Bigwood

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Organization: Kingston University

Dear Roman,

I have just arrived back from holiday and have been told the sad news that Alexander Lutsko died whilst in Spain. I was very sorry to hear and I am sure he will be missed greatly at the Institute.

Please convey our sincerest best wishes to everyone at ISIR — our thoughts are with you.

Kind Regards

Robin

Date: Fri, 5 Sep 1997 13:42:10 From: Richard Wilson

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For the faculty, staff and students of the International Sakharov Institute of Radioecology.

It is with great sadness that we have heard of the death of your rector Dr Alexander Lutsko. His enthusiasm and hard work were an inspiration for us all. The best tribute to his memory that we can imagine will be for you all to continue and expand upon his great work in starting and nurturing this institute and after graduation to spread the knowledge you have gained far and wide.

If there is anything the International Advisory Board can do to help in this please call upon us, individually, or severally.

Richard Wilson Chairman International Advisory Board ISCR.

For the family of Lutsko (wife and daughter)

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Dear friends,

It was with great sadness that we heard of the untimely death of our good friend and colleague Dr Alexander Lutsko. You have known him for longer than we have as a wife and daughter: but we offfer you our sympathy in this great loss

Yours sincerely

Richard Wilson (Chairman) on behalf of the International Advisory Committee, ISCR

Date: Mon, 8 Sep 1997 14:40:47 From: Anne Grant

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Organization: Kingston University

Dear Colleagues

FIRST MAY I EXPRESS MY SINCERE GRIEF AND SHOCK AT THE INTIMELY DEATH OF ALEXANDER LUTSKO. HE WAS A GREAT MAN AND WILL BE KEENLY MISSED BY ALL WHO KNEW HIM. BUT FOR YOU WHO WERE HIS FRIENDS MAY I OFFER MY CONDOLENCES AS WELL AS TO HIS CHILDREN AND FAMILY. PLEASE OFFER THEM TO ALL AT THE INSTITUTE ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US AT GREEN CROSS UK

Sincerely Anne Grant, Director Green Cross

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From: Elizabeth Smedley Date: Tue, 9 Sep 1997 23:23:10

Dear colleagues,

Thank you for your e-mail about Sasha’s death. I am so sorry and sad to receive this news. He was such a good friend and support to me while I was in Minsk, I can’t imagine that he is no longer there! Was there a funeral or a memorial service for him? If so, when? If there were any chance of my coming for a memorial service, I would if I haven’t missed it.

Best, Elizabeth Smedley [Liza]

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Date: Mon, 08 Sep 1997 From: Kerstin Sundberg

We feel the greatest sympathy with you, with your collueges and with your whole institute. I know you were so fond of your rector, and he seemed to be such a wonderful person.I remembered you said that he was a good leader and could give you the right and developing questions. Good leaders are difficult to find so we are really very sorry. What will happen now in Sacharov Institute?

Kerstin

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Date: Tue, 9 Sep 1997 From: Gosta Sundberg

I got very sorry to hear your news, and I feel deep sympathy for you. You have lost not only a very good friend but also a very important and dedicated leader of your Institute, I presume. A lot of practicle problems will obviously also follow as you indicate. And how will this affect the Institute?

I really wish you and your colleagues all the best in a very difficult situation.

Yours, Gosta

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Date: Fri, 12 Sep 1997 From: Volodin <men@gis.net>

I was browsing in Internet when I saw Sasha’s portrait… I met Sasha twenty five years ago. He was neither a rector, nor a professor at that time. He was a physicist and a well-known Belarusian alpinist. He was one of those who were climbing to their mountain all their life. He died on the way. I’m proud to know him. I pray for him.

Mikhail Volodin

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From: ESmedley@aol.com Date: Wed, 10 Sep 1997

Aleksandr Mikhailovich Lutsko was a great friend and supporter of the Soros Foundation — Belarus from the date of its inception in 1992, and he was a tremendous support to me personally during my two years in Minsk. He was a man of great integrity who provided sound advise, friendship and an open home at times when I felt very alone. For this I thank him. It is strange and sad that his passing coincides with the closing of the Foundation in Belarus, as if an era is ending. However, the tremendous work and dedication which Lutsko poured into ISIR means that he leaves behind a strong institution of higher learning from which future generations of young Belarusian scientists will hopefully benefit. No doubt he will be most sorely missed by his family, colleagues and friends in Belarus and Russia. But already California is a much emptier place from his death. We wish you God Speed on the rest of your journey Sasha.

With love,

Elizabeth Smedley Executive Director, Soros Foundation-Belarus 1992-1994

Stanford Law School, Stanford, California, September 10, 1997

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To : Sakharov Institute Minsk, Belarus

We were sorry to learn of the death of Alexander Lutsko and we extend our sympathy to his family, friends and colleagues.

I have vivid memories of his motivation, determination and ebullient manner which definitely put him in a class of his own.

Our sincerest condolences,

Hellen Conefrey Tempus Tacis Unit ETF — Torino

Organization: Kalo Holdings Corp. Date: Wed, 10 Sep 1997

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The family of Dr.Lutsko and all people who knew him have lost THE MAN. Aleksandr Mikhaylovich was and always will be an example for us, his students. His open heart, crystal soul and great wisdom had driven people around him to the better future, to the better understanding of the world. Aleksandr Mikhaylovich gave me personally priceless lessons of life which I’ll remember forever. It is not possible to describe how much we all lost with his death, there is no word on the Earth to help now so I just bend my neck and keep silence…

Dima Lazovsky, former student of ISIR

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From: Patricia Lane, Kingston University Date: Fri, 12 Sep 1997 17:01:55 GMT +0100

Dear Roman

It is with very great shock and sadness that I heard that Alexander Lutsko has died. Although I only met him occasionally, he was such a vital and vibrant person that he made a great impression. He seemed to be the driving force behind so much of the activity at Sakharov, and at Kingston. It is quite terrible.

I wonder if you would pass on my sympathy to his family and, of course, to everyone at Sakharov, including yourself. It is very bad and sad news indeed.

With best wishes

Pat Lane

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TO The Family, Friends, and Colleagues of Alexander Lutsko.

FROM F W (Fred) Fifield, Kingston University.

I have just returned from a short holiday today to be greeted with the sad news of the death of Alexander. He was a man of true vision who had the resourcefulness to make visions into reality. It is to these characteristics that we owe the very existence of ISIR. He was an internationalist in the best sense of the word, and his work in promoting technical and cultural links between our countries, once separated by the iron curtain, has been, and will continue to be of great significance to both. To his family I send my heartfelt condolences and personally mourn a friend of rare quality.

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From: Sue Roff <sue@med-ed.dundee.ac.uk Date: Mon, 15 Sep 1997 15:47:51 GMT

Subject: Loss of Alexandre Lutsko

I am saddened at the sudden death of Alexander, he died too young with much more to give everyone. He was a fine man; a trustworthy colleague and a valued friend. His death will be a great loss to many and my sympathy goes out to his family and all his friends across the globe. Mrs Sheila Gray, Secretary, British Nuclear Tests Veterans Association.

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From: alison <101464.1745@compuserve.com> Subject: Alexander lutsko

I have just learned of Alexander’s death — the shock is profound.

To me, as to so many others, Alexander was a source of inspiration, of light and of joy.

He seemed to be a force of nature, and unstoppable, so his death is all the more difficult to comprehend.

My thoughts are with his family: his immediate family, his ISIR family, and the world-wide family of friends and colleagues within which I am immensely proud and priviledge to have been included.

Alison Waugh