From the Office of the Dean...

May 5, 2008

In memory of Alexander Krupenko, 1987-2008

All who met him recognized Alexander Krupenko’s intensity and interest in science, particularly chemistry and molecular biology. But they also saw a friendly and cheerful young man they knew as Sasha. This was the memory that Dr. Mike Dukes, the Undergraduate Directory of Chemistry holds of him.  They were, in fact, next door neighbors, and as Mike recalls, “Sasha was calm, poised and very focused on his course of study”. He will be missed around the neighborhood, as well as the department.

As the photo of him indicates, Sasha reveled in doing research and presenting and defending his work. Dr. Scott Goode was Sasha’s Chemistry advisor and remembers fondly both his cheerfulness and his great curiosity and intellect.  As Scott points out,  “Sasha had a fervent interest in brain chemistry and was one of very few undergraduates who realized that the thoughts, emotions and many mental health problems were at their root, molecular problems”. Sasha had a clear goal for himself of preparing for a career  searching for molecular solutions to these problems.

Sasha died unexpectedly in January 2008, and while we all mourn his passing, we also celebrate his life and accomplishments. Sasha will be posthumously awarded his Degree in Chemistry from the College of Arts and Sciences and with Honors from the South Carolina Honors College in Spring 2008.