A man of great heart

Abstract

This article is a brief overview of memoirs about Leon A. Orbeli, a brilliant scientist, a community leader and a man of great heart. The best student and close friend of I. P. Pavlov, Academician L. A. Orbeli made an outstanding contribution to science. The Orbeli School became the most established USSR scientific school in physiology. Among its most striking advances is the discovery of the adaptive-trophic function of the sympathetic nervous system; the development of new ideas about the functions of the cerebellum; the discovery of the influence of subcortical centers on the functional state of the cerebral cortex; contribution to the study of physiology and pathology of higher nervous activity of humans; and many more. The Orbeli School is marked by powerful creativity. It is also exceptionally long-lived. Orbeli enjoyed wide popularity and deep respect of the society due to his genuine humanism, active civic involvement and rigor in defending his convictions. Those who knew Orbeli keep fond memories of him. He is remembered not only as an outstanding scientist, but also as a man of great personal charm. He was attentive to people and was surprisingly easy in dealing with them. Orbeli’s willingness to make life easier by any means for those who turned to him was boundless. Love, care and respect he gave to people shaped his spiritual profile. This article is an attempt to make the portrayal of Orbeli’s personality more complete through depicting his most characteristic traits.