Biserka Kojić-Prodić

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CROATICA CHEMICA ACTA CCACAA, ISSN 0011-1643, e-ISSN 1334-417X Croat. Chem. Acta 83 (2) (2010) CCIX–CCX.      OBITUARY  Aleksandar Bezjak (1928 – 2010) Prof. Dr. Aleksandar Bezjak, retired professor of inor-ganic chemistry at Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemis-try of the University of Zagreb passed away on  Febru-ary 21, 2010 in Zagreb. He was born on January 2, 1928 in Samobor, Croatia. He graduated in chemistry from Chemical Technology Department of the Technical Faculty, University of Zagreb (1957) whereas he won his doctoral degree from the Faculty of Science and Mathematics of the University of Zagreb (1964). His scientific interests were in X-ray crystallography, equally in powder and single crystal diffraction analy-ses; in both fields he reached high expertise. Inclined to set up mathematical models to describe the system un-der investigation he combined experimental and theo-retical methods in physical and analytical chemistry  of cements. His work on cements was highly appreci-ated and he was invited to establish the research labora-tories within JUCEMA (former Yugoslav Association of Cement Producers) in order to develop standards for obtaining high quality products. His scientific career was significantly inspired by three distinguished scien-tists with whom he worked in his early days. Prof. Bezjak wrote by himself: 'I was lucky to work subse-quently with three distinguished scientists prof. Danilo Blanuša-matematician, prof. Miroslav Karšulin-physical chemists, and prof. Drago Grdenić-chemist and crystal-lographer.  In 1957 he was employed as an assistant in the  X-ray laboratory of Rudjer Bošković Institute. From 1961 to 1969 he acted as the head of Research Depart-ment of JUCEMA. In 1969 he was appointed associate professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry and in 1975 a full professor in the Department of Inor-ganic Chemistry. He was professor of informatics at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry (1987–1989) and served as a deputy of dean (1970–1972 and 1978–1980) of that faculty. As the internationally recognised expert in chemistry of cements he was appointed a member of international RILEM Committee on "Mathematical modelling of Hydration of Cements" and "Phase analysis of cement" (1982–1988). Due to his international reputation the project "Kinetic Analysis  of Prediction of Cement Hydration" was financed by National Bureau of Standards, USA (1985–1988).  The results of Bezjak's research were published in number of scientific and technical papers. In the field of X-ray structure analysis, including development of direct methods for phase determination of structure factors, he solved the crystal structures of two organic molecules phthalylurea and mellitic acid (benzene hex-acarboxylic acid discovered in 1799 by M. H. Klaproth) prior to any computer programs were available for de-termination of structures of organic molecules (1953 and 1960, respectively). At that time the structure of organic molecules were solvable by intellectual power only. Mathematically oriented mind, personalised in prof. Bezjak, combined stereochemical characteristics of the molecule and its orientation in the crystal lattice with vector interpretation of structure factors to solve   CCX Obituary Croat. Chem. Acta 83 (2010) CCIX. the problem of phasing. X-ray qualitative and quantita-tive phase analyses of complex mixtures were in focus of his research for all his active life. The two seminal papers on X-ray quantitative analysis of multiphase systems, published in 1961 and 1971 in Croatica Che-mica Acta, for the first time offered general solution. Though prof. Bezjak was the first author who solved that problem, priority was assigned to Chinese author F. H. Chung whose two papers were published in 1974 in Journal of Applied Crystallography. Thus, the Chung method should be named the Bezjak's method. The results obtained by X-ray diffraction he complemented also by electron diffraction and electron transmission microscopy in collaboration with his wife Dr. Ivanka Jelenić. The methods developed by prof. Bezjak have been applied in the research of calcium-silicate ma-terials, enamels and polymers. As the well established  crystallographer prof. Bezjak was elected member of  the first Yugoslav Crystallographic Croatian Council (1966). Prof. Bezjak was dedicated teacher and he acted  as a mentor to about forty MrSc and PhD students.  His enthusiasm in research and a broad knowledge in  science, humanities, and music inspired his students  and co-workers. In personal contacts he was attentive  listener but he never hesitated to expose his opinion  in the complex situations supporting the interest of  a scientific community. Prof. Bezjak was involved in different activities for a benefit of scientific community. All of those who knew prof. Bezjak will miss his dis-tinctive human personality, and respects for his col-leagues and friends.  

OBITUARY: Aleksandar Bezjak (1928 – 2010)

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