Outstanding Researcher of the Far North: in memory of the CASE-IN expert Igor Kuzmin

On February 2, the heart of a famous Kolyma resident stopped at the Khabarovsk cardiocenter. Igor Mikhailovich Kuzmin, an Honored Worker of Culture of the Russian Federation, who was energetic, always in a hurry, and active with a constant multitude of ideas and projects, passed away, the press service of the Magadan Regional Duma told MP.

Like the knights of bygone eras, he passionately loved the Far North, was infinitely devoted to Magadan. I have been striving for its prosperity for almost six decades, eager to fill everyday life with bright, unique content. A man of high culture, a broad soul and a big heart. Sincere, attentive to people and their concerns and problems, an amazing conversationalist, a loyal and reliable friend, colleague.

Arriving in the capital of Kolyma with a diploma from Chernivtsi State University, a young hydrologist gets a job at the Magadan Hydrometeorological Observatory and, with all the passion of his nature, engages in icebreaking exploration to escort the fleet along the Northern Sea Route. In 1963, an enthusiastic, active specialist was involved in studying the features of permafrost design and construction. He participates in experiments on driving piles into permafrost soil. He is involved in the care of not only the primary, but also the city Komsomol organization.

In 1965, Igor Kuzmin was elected second and then first secretary of the Magadan City Committee of the Komsomol. For four years, he has not allowed himself even a minute's respite, organizing young people to develop the main sectors of the economy, and to build significant facilities in the city. He is engaged in the creation of youth brigades of communist labor in production, holds meetings of young leaders. With his direct participation, a zonal Komsomol school is being opened. Being in the epicenter of everything that a growing, under-construction city breathes, Igor Mikhailovich unites creative youth not only in Magadan, but also in the Kolyma districts and Chukotka.

The promising Komsomol leader is sent to study at the Higher Party School, after which he works at the Providensky district committee, the regional committee of the CPSU. However, hardware life is not for Kuzmin, he is closer to developing science. He is a junior researcher at the Institute of Bioproblems of the North. Soon he was appointed deputy director. According to his Komsomol habit, he continues to give lectures on the line of the Znanie society, which are so popular in the region that hundreds of seeking, enthusiastic Northerners gather at each meeting. He has been on the board of the Magadan regional organization of the Znanie Society for 11 years.

There is no settlement, mine, state farm, or corner on the map of a vast region where the indefatigable lecturer is not known, his conversations, discussions, and reflections on the prospects of the territory in the east of the country are not remembered. It is natural that such a propagandist-practitioner is invited by the vice-president for economic affairs of the International Pedagogical Institute, and after the reorganization – by the adviser on economics to the president of the Northern International University. It is difficult to overestimate the contribution of Igor Mikhailovich Kuzmin to the formation of the university, the development of its concept and development program, the international cooperation of higher education in the region with universities in the Asia-Pacific region, the formation of the educational environment in the Far Northeast.

In 2002, a new structure was created at the mayor's office – the economic council, and a skilled organizer, the ideologist of many initiatives in the region, was persuaded to become its secretary. At the same time, he opens the Magadan Center for New Technologies, which is engaged in technical testing, research and certification of innovative industries and enterprises, and continues exploration, geophysical and geochemical work in the field of subsurface exploration in the non-profit organization The Kolyma Subsoil Foundation of the Magadan Region. A year later, the non-profit partnership "Self-regulatory Organization "Prospector of the North and East" registers, which conducts geodetic and cartographic activities. Until the last day, he was the Director of Economics and Development at Mining Geodetic Design of Surveying and Land Management LLC.

In 1995, he established the country's first and only economics school for high school students in Magadan. After graduating from the Northern International University, some of its graduates became leading specialists in the economic and industrial fields both in Russia and abroad. In 1996, he took an active part in writing the concept of the development of the Russian North and, in particular, the Magadan region.

In 2001, he participated in the preparation and edited a 250-page concept for the development of mineral resources in the Srednekansky district. He was engaged in the creation of the reference book "Climate of the North-East of the USSR", was the author of scientific publications on socio-economic problems of the region. As Director of Economics and Development at Gorgeopro LLC, he became an expert in the qualifying stage of the International case-in Internet Championship, a unique educational project to identify and support the most promising and motivated mining students and postgraduates.

He was elected three times to the Magadan City Council.

He's used to always being on the front line. In accordance with the traditions of the family. His father, Mikhail Kuzmich Kuzmin, a political instructor of a tank company, fought off the attacks of the Nazi invaders near Tikhvin in November 1941 in a burning car until his last breath. For his courage and heroism, he was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union, awarded the Order of Lenin (posthumously). His older brother Anatoly devoted his life to exploring the Russian North: he led the observatory on the island of Svalbard for 35 years.

In 2014, Igor Mikhailovich Kuzmin was awarded the Commemorative Badge "Magadan - 75 years old" for his personal contribution to strengthening the socio-economic and cultural development of the city of Magadan, active social activities and patriotism. In October 2019, Igor Kuzmin was awarded the badge of distinction "For services to the Magadan region."

An entire era of romantic enthusiasts has passed away with Igor Kuzmin, to whom we owe the special aura of Kolyma, our Kolyma brotherhood, and the love and responsibility for the northern land instilled in the young.

We express our condolences to the family and friends of Igor Mikhailovich Kuzmin. Together with you, our city, the Magadan Region, and the Far Northeast have suffered an irreparable loss. We are with you in this inconsolable grief.

Chairman of the Magadan Regional Duma Sergey Abramov, staff of the regional Legislative Assembly.  

A source: Magadan truth