ANOTHER MATERIAL ABOUT ALEXANDER ROZHEN FROM THE PUBLICATION OF THE WEEKLY OF THE WEEK. UKRAINE”

Our dear colleague and friend Alexander Pavlovich Rozhen died on March 6, 2016 in Vancouver, where he lived with family for the last two years. On February 1, he turned 79 years old. Alexander Rozhen is known not only as Ukrainian screenwriter (many of his screenplays have won prizes at international film festivals), but also as journalist and writer. In addition to one and a half hundred screenplays for popular science and documentaries, he only in our weekly as a correspondent of the Department of Science and Education, then a scientific columnist, published more than five hundred articles. He enthusiastically worked in the genre of scientific and fiction, planned to publish a series books about prominent figures of Ukrainian science and culture.

Before leaving, he went to the editorial office with his long-awaited favorite grandson.
“Goodbye! he said goodbye, hiding his excitement. – I hope to return in a year, and then we will drink for meeting”.
Life circumstances and a severe long-term illness forced him to change his place of residence. Assumed for a while, but it turned out as relentless fate decreed.

It is difficult to accept the thought that we will no longer hear his laughter, funny jokes and anecdotes in the editorial office. That his articles would no longer appear in the newspaper, their readers always waited and hotly debated. Because touched for living …

Oleksandr Rozhen is known not only as a Ukrainian screenwriter (many of his screenplays have won prizes at international film festivals), but also as a journalist and writer. In addition to one and a half hundred scripts to popular science and documentaries, he is only in our weekly as a correspondent for the Department of Science and education, then a scientific reviewer, published more than five hundred articles. He enthusiastically worked in the genre scientific and fiction, planned to publish a series of books about prominent figures of Ukrainian science and culture. From his pen came several stories about the fascinating world of science and extraordinary scientists. His The first book “Scientist, Engineer and One Hundred Centuries”, published in 1975, has become a second-hand book today. rarity.

The period of decline in the popularization of science in the country was very painful and did everything possible to revive to her any interest. After leaving Kyivnaukfilm, where he worked as an editor and screenwriter, he became fascinated scientific journalism. Rich life experience, extensive erudition and light pen (very sharp when defended the principled position) – the symbiosis of these qualities provided publications on complex scientific topics that journalists call readability. He defiantly violated the virgin layers of themes in a youthful way. Articles and essays sometimes caused controversy and heated debate, but never left the reader indifferent.

After learning a few years ago about the ruthless diagnosis, he, a great lover of life, did not give up (how many more ideas and plans nurtured!) And an ally in the fight against the disease chose creativity. Even when I felt very bad, turned to his affectionate muse, and, as his faithful wife Natasha said, it gave him remarkable forces. Together with his sons – film director Andrew and producer Philip performed in the genre of game art cinema. The debut of the family team was successful – scripts by father and sons Rozhen twice consecutively awarded prizes in the competitions “Coronation of the word”. Foreign studios became interested in their work.

Oleksandr Pavlovych’s letters impress with their sincerity and empathy for the events in Ukraine. Man of action, restlessness, he could not afford to grieve. He spent his free time with his adored grandson. Lines of letters:

“… Let’s go to the ocean. We sit on the bench and watch. The places on the beach where we lay in the summer were taken by seals and fur seals. The purity of the water is amazing, despite the fact that there is a giant port nearby. “

“Yesterday at low tide a whale – a white killer whale – hunted seals and remained stranded. The sun is merciless smoked, and it was clear that the killer whale’s skin would dry up until the next tide. Then all the people on the beach grabbed their towels, soaked in sea water and began to cover the killer whale. It seems that she is grateful looked at people. In the evening, during the tide, the killer whale was able to swim in the big water. On the shore, where already half the city gathered, applause was heard. Everyone was happy that she was saved. Needless to say, the people here a different attitude than in the world of the deceased in the god of socialism. “

“We are increasingly convinced that Ukraine is very similar to Canada. It’s just that it was very unlucky with its neighbor …”

He dreamed of a trip to the Pacific Ocean, as he wrote in his last letter. But, apparently, to him destined to travel to the boundless ocean of Eternity.