From Memories of Stas Ionov
by M. Korolik
I met and got to know Stas through his brother. Pavel and I were class-mates / room-mates at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and at USC in LA. The first day as I stepped on the US soil I met Stas who happened to be just an older replica of my long-time friend Pavel. Stas was in a good mood, pulling various jokes out of his sleeves, laughed sincerely and often. I immediately started to like the guy even though I knew him for just few hours. Truthfully, I don’t think I have ever changed my opinion about Stas, he was a friendly likable person. As the time went on I found that Stas was extremely bright in many aspects of science, politics and finances. But that I learned only later.
Back in 1993 in several months after my arrival to California, I was invited to spend a New Year break (Dec. 93 – Jan 94) with the Ionovs family at a cabin in the Mammoth Lake ski resort area (around the June Lake). Despite the fact that I had never skied downhill before I went along for the heck of adventure. My memories are escaping the exact details of the time together with Stas, Irina, Sophia and Pavel back then. I only remember how Stas jokingly criticized Pavel for collecting the first speeding ticket on the New Year eve and the amount of hard liquor we have taken care of. We had tons of fun. As for the skiing, Stas and Pavel were top-gun skiers as far as I was concerned. I had to take beginners lessons and there I was far away from the black diamond slopes where the brothers tried to beat each others’ times in slalom.
Now, when I think why Stas was so good in what he was doing I do believe that he was just able to concentrate all his efforts and will at the things that he decided on. Physics – check! Chemistry – check! Skiing – check! Tennis – check! Sailing, cycling, running – check, check, check! No matter what he had chosen he would excel at eventually. He was a terrific and eloquent speaker. His reasoning and logic was immaculate, eloquence was astounding.
By his inspiring example not only did Stas motivate people around him to follow his example and improve but also he changed lives of several people, myself included. Had Stas not been where he was and who he was I would have never been where I am now.
Let me explain, these are not just words, these are facts: Stanislav Ionov has set a spectacular example of a scientist at USC for years to come allowing me and others who graduated from Stas’s Moscow Institute of Physcics and Technology to be admitted to research Ph.D. programs at USC.
I am extremely grateful to Stas for that. Stas, you will always be in our hearts. Your ever-smiling face just like on that on the old black-and-white photo will be in our memories for good.
Thank you much, Stas, and so long.
