We are deeply saddened by the unexpected death of Dr. Stewart Cederholm-Williams on July 5, 2002. It is a big loss to his friends and colleagues at the A.V. Palladin Institute of Biochemistry of the Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences in Kiev, Ukraine.

Dr. Cederholm-Williams first visited the Institute of Biochemistry in 1993 and offered to set up a scientific collaboration with the Department of Protein Structure and Functions. He was particularly interested in blood coagulation and fibrinolysis, which has been the major area of research at the Department. During all the years of the collaboration, Dr. Cederholm-Williams often visited the Institute, participating in scientific discussions, arranging joint experiments, analyzing data, and helping in preparation of scientific papers, several of which with his co-authorship were published in Ukrainian scientific journals. During 1994-1997, which was an economically very difficult time for Ukrainian research, he supported financially a number of scientific projects at the Institute and this thoughtful gesture will always be remembered by the Ukrainian biochemists.

As part of the collaboration, Dr. Cederholm-Williams invited more than 10 members of the Institute of Biochemistry to his Oxford Bioresearch Laboratory to work on joint projects and to learn new methods and approaches. He afforded a great opportunity for young scientists to work on their Ph.D. projects in the Oxford Laboratory and he served as an advisor of one of them. In order to improve scientific communication between the Ukrainian and international researchers, he organized the International Conference on Fibrinogen and Fibrinolysis in Yalta, Ukraine, in 1995. It was an excellent opportunity for the Ukrainian scientists to be introduced to an International network in this scientific area and to present the results of their research.

In 1996 in recognition of both his considerable achievements in research and for his impact on the progress of biochemistry in Ukraine, Dr. Cederholm-Williams was honored to be elected to the Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences.

Stewart Cederholm-Williams liked Ukraine and was eager to understand Ukrainian and Russian culture. He visited different parts of Ukraine, attending Orthodox churches and cathedrals, admiring the architecture and history of our multi-ethnic country, meeting new people and always being received with warmth and graciousness wherever he traveled. He was a stimulating, positive and sincere person and he had a huge impact on the lives of many Ukrainian researchers both professionally and personally. Stewart’s warmth, humor, and lively friendship will be greatly missed by all his friends in Ukraine.

Current and Former Coworkers of the A. V. Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, Kiev, Ukraine