Valentin Alexandrovich Lipovetsky

We note, with deep sorrow, that Dr. Valentin Alexandrovich Lipovetsky, a senior astronomer and the leader of the Laboratory of Galaxy Studies of the Special Asrtrophysical Observatory, passed away at the age of 51 on September 22, 1996, after a several year battle with melanoma.

Valentin Lipovetsky was an outstanding astronomer in many areas of extragalactic research and an internationally acknowledged leader in objective prism surveys and studies of AGN and star-forming galaxies. His influence on contemporary astrophysics is evidenced by the numerous articles on Markarian galaxies in international magazines by many authors, to the discovery and study of which Valentin, in close collaboration with his teacher B.E.Markarian, devoted 20 years of his scientific career.

His widely-cited research during the seven last years on the nature of blue compact galaxies (BCGs) and related topics has attracted much interest from many colleagues working in the field.

From the moment that democratization in the Soviet Union and electronic communication opened new opportunities for wider international contacts, Valentin became one of the most active SAO astronomers to develop close nternational ties by organizing ambitious collaborative scientific projects. In particular, he was the first Russian astrophysicist to receive, along with T.X.Thuan (USA), the very prestigeous H.Chretien grant of the American Astronomical Society for studies of BCGs. Another very important project in collaboration with astrophysicists from USA and Ukraine, the Kitt Peak International Spectral Survey (KISS), aimed to provide a very deep search of emission-line galaxies, was supported by NSF and ISF.

The mutual benefit of wide international cooperation which Valentin saw from the very beginning is now evident for most active research at SAO.

His rich humanity attracted many people both at home and abroad. His talants and interests in many areas outside of astronomy influenced positively the life of the SAO community in such memorable initiatives as the SAO amateur theatre, SAO jogging club "Alan", SAO Soviet-American astronomy camps for high-school students, and the SAO English club. A wide variety of people, both from within the SAO community and outside of it, experienced the joy of contact with Valentin within the framework of these and other activities.

Valentin was fully aware of his fatal sickness and worked during his last years with remarkable courage and energy, trying his best to complete many intersting research projects which he had initiated. His passing will not end his studies; his many collaborators and colleagues will continue his work and develop his ideas.

We express our sincere grief to his family and all colleagues and friends who had the pleasure to work and interact with this remarkable man.

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