Remembering Boris Bondarenko

by Prof. Igor Korneev, St. Petersburg, and Dr. Lars Pohlmeier, Bremen

If peace had a face and if kindness, mutual cultural understanding and respect had a name it might well be the face and name of of our Russian colleague Boris Bondarenko.

Born on January 7th in 1938 in Magadan to a family of doctors, Boris made a great contribution to the creation and development of the Leningrad Research Institute of Cardiology where he worked as the head of the scientific and clinical department since its founding in 1980.

He devoted his entire life to medical science and education of young doctors. After graduating from the 1st Leningrad Medical Institute I. P. Pavlov in 1961, Bondarenko continued his academic career in Leningrad.

Bondarenko was also active in international peace activities. Together with academician V.A. Almazov he organized the Leningrad branch of the Soviet Committee of IPPNW and later became one of the Sovjet international representatives of our movement. Those who had the privilege to visit him at work at his cardiology clinic were presented with the numerous posters and memories of his international IPPNW work.

The authority of Professor B.B. Bondarenko as a scientist and clinician was indisputable. On a personal level, he was an outstanding example of a physician with his benevolent attention to colleagues and patients, delicacy, sensitivity and strict honesty in his profession.

Boris Bondarenko was a wonderful man and member of our global movement. It is with great sadness that we have to report that Professor Boris Bondarenko died on 22nd January 2024. We will remember him – and we will miss him.