« Memories don't just contain our past, they determine the future »

Remembering Joco Pop-Jordanov (1925-2024)

Today, March 12, 2024, our husband and father Jordan Pop-Jordanov went to eternity.
He left quietly, without complaints, dignified – as he lived. Many have complained because we did not report on TV, newspapers, why we did not do « theater ». He wanted it – the deal was to bury only the closest and without any ceremonies.
Over the grave, my daughter spoke like this:
« What does it mean to be a good father?
– The father who held her little daughter in his hands, carried her on his shoulders, threw her into the air, and then caught her in his arms. So he taught her not to be afraid of heights and that he would always be here for her.
– A father who will not show that he is nervous and to lose patience no matter how stressful his day was. Who will try to solve misunderstandings with others in a peaceful, wise and diplomatic way.
– The father for whom the best education was always of great importance and who, through continuous learning and work, set an example of curiosity and persistence.
– A father who set an example of a healthy and active life. He was careful about his diet and was involved in sports – tennis, which we all knew was a favorite. « First Champion in Macedonia »!
– A father who knows how to criticize, but also to praise.
– A father who deals well with everyone and is incredibly generous, in a way that gives an example that everyone should be helped and that all people are good.
– A father who knows for no reason to hug her daughter and is not afraid to show that she loves her, even though she is already a great girl.
« My father fulfilled all these points and much more … I believe it would be a father who would dedicate just as much love for his grandchild. »
On this occasion I will tell some truths that the public does not know, and who are important for knowledge of such a person.
He was born in Veliko Gradiste, Serbia, for his father, a lawyer, received service there. Otherwise, his father Peter ended up right to Sorbonne before World War I and was probably the most educated Macedonian at the time. He spoke French, played violin and was extremely read. Thus, Jordan, along with sisters and brother, grew up in an intellectual environment. Foreign languages ​​were spoken, played on instruments, books were read … Although from a wealthy family, ideology took them to a completely different way.
Inserted with the ideas of socialism, all three children were organized in the High School Communist Party in Serbia and because of their activities were expelled from the school. It was good for Macedonia, because after coming to Stip, he and his sister Victoria organized the youth in this city. That is why Joco was shut down by the Bulgarian authorities three times (not just administrators!). He was so beaten and tormented that all the citizens of Stip did not believe that he would remain alive?!
Sister Victoria as a partisan in the Sharplanine squad was killed by ambush on November 6, 1943 to Karadak, Kosovo, by the ballists. Despite this terrible loss, other children remained all the way to the freedom fighters. His brother Vlado after the war became a great surgeon with several specialties, while his sister Liljana became an architect.
Due to participation in partisan fights and the brave holding during the war, Joco was honored with a 1941 partisan monument. He never boasted about it, nor did he use his recognition for personal benefits and privileges. There were other medals – all obtained from Yugoslav institutions.
He was a true scientist in his heart. He rejected all the functions offered and as an ordinary student, in a dormitory, graduated from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Belgrade, and in parallel and the Faculty of Philosophy in Skopje. The Faculty of Philosophy was named the best student ever.
I do not want to write about the days spent in Vinca, at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Belgrade, where he built his career as a scientist! Otherwise, in Moscow under the leadership of prof. Galanin has developed a doctoral dissertation that incorporates the atomic physics method that is then quoted as a pop-jordan method in world science!
I will only mention that he led student protests in 1968, leading students and professors from technical faculties, struggling with the ideals of justice, socialism, equality between people. He said that all demands set in the then revolutionary days remain current to this day!
He comes to Macedonia as President of MANU. At that time, I became his wife and associate in science. We've been together for 37 years.
Dedicated to scientific progress, he led dozens of international projects and, as they say, brought international science to us. He said, « Either it's science everywhere in the world or it's not, there is no Macedonian science! »
He lived for the academy. We, the family, were in second place. Helped young people to step on the right track, providing them with educations, contacts with world names, controlling their papers. It also helped the staff at the Academy whenever needed. Unfortunately, in the last ten years, after withdrawing from the active research work, no one visited him or calling him. We lived almost in isolation, but he remained a scientist until the end. It was my strictest reviewer of all published papers and books, especially when they were in English.
With our help, however, they experienced old age, rejoiced at both daughters, son, grandchildren and great -grandchildren…
He left quietly as he lived. Leave a huge gap in us – the closest ones, which will never be filled.

Let him be eternal glory!

Nada and Sofia Pop-Jordan