ПОЧИНА АСЕН ДОНЧЕВ
(19 юни 1948 – 16 септември 2021)
Асен Любомиров Дончев е роден на 19.VI.1948 в гр. Плевен. Завършва гимназия (1966) със златен медал в родния си град. Следва една година в МЕИ, София (специалност Електронни изчислителни машини), след което продължава образованието си във Варшавския Технологичен Университет, Полша.
След втори курс преминава на индивидуална програма ориентирана към математическа теория на управление и започва да се занимава с научна работа в тази област. Завършва университета с магистърска степен (1971), а през 1974 г. получава и докторска степен (Ph.D.).
След завръщането си в България, работи (1975 –1989) в Институт по математика и механика ( дн. ИМИ-БАН) на ЕЦММ, където се хабилитира (1983), защитава дисертация за доктор на математическите науки (дмн, 1987) и става професор.
От 1990 г. е редактор (Associate Editor) в Mathematical Reviews, а от 2000 г. – извънреден професор в Университета в Мичиган. Научни степени и звания: Докторска степен (Ph.D., 1974), доктор на математическите науки (дмн, 1987). доцент (1983), професор (1988). Основни научни направления: Работи основно в областите Вариационен анализ, Оптимизация, Оптимално управление, както и в съседни области като Функционален анализ, Теория на апроксимациите, Диференциални включвания, Числени методи. Лекции: Във ФМИ-СУ: Математическо оптимиране и спецкурсове по Оптимално управление, Числени методи на екстремалните задачи, Теория на игрите.
В Университета в Мичиган: Числени методи, Диференциални уравнения, Линейна алгебра. Ръководни длъжности: От 2007 до 2009г. е директор в програмата по анализ в отдела за математически науки на Националната Фондация за Наука – САЩ (National Science Foundation – USA).
Членство в научни/обществени организации: Съюз на математиците в България (СМБ), Американско математическо дружество (АМS), Дружество по индустриална и приложна математика. Сътрудничество: Член на борда на редакторите на следните международни списания: Serdica Mathematical Journal, Computational Optimization and Applications, SIAM Journal on Optimization (1997–2009), Journal of Dynamical and Control Systems (1997–20180, SIAM Journal on Control and Optimization, Open Journal of Applied Mathematics, Journal of Industrial and Managerial Optimization (2004– 2009), Mathematica Balkanica, Journal of Mathematical Analysis and Application (2005–2016), Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications. Отличия: Лауреат на наградата на ДКМС (1983) и на наградата на БАН за математически науки (1994). Източник:http://mmib.math.bas.bg/?page_id=23139
В памет на Асен Дончев ще се проведе събиране на 25 септември от 11a.m. в Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Ann Arbor, едно от неговите любими места.
OBITUARY
Dr. Asen L Dontchev
JUNE 19, 1948 – SEPTEMBER 16, 2021
Dr. Asen L. Dontchev, 73, of Ann Arbor, Michigan passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Thursday, September 16, 2021. Asen is survived by his wife, Dora, his sister, Nina (Mitko), his kids, Mira (Wil) and Kiko (Erin), and his grandkids, Yasen, Sonya, and Finn.
Asen was born June 19, 1948 in Pleven, Bulgaria to Lubomir and Maria Dontchevi. He grew up loving math and music and attended two schools in parallel – one for math and another for music where he studied violin. He was an exceptional mathematician winning awards at Math Olympiads early in life. That success led him to study mathematics in Poland at the Warsaw University of Technology where he completed his PhD in Control Sciences in 1974.
Upon his return to Bulgaria, Asen became a professor at the Institute of Mathematics at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and settled into life in Sofia. He married Dora in 1978 and together they welcomed two children: Mira (1979) and Kiko (1986).
Mathematics was Asen’s passion. He could often be found writing formulas and working on his next paper. He was always thinking about the next idea and the next problem. His first book was published in 1983 and over his lifetime he wrote six books – two in Bulgarian and four in English. His last book – Lectures in Variational Analysis – will be published later this year. He published 128 papers and served as editor on some of the top mathematical journals of his field. In 1987 he reached the prestigious level of Doctor of Mathematical Sciences and became full professor in the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. In 2015 he was awarded a medal by the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences for significant contributions to the field of mathematics.
In 1990 Asen and his family started a new chapter in a new country at a time of great change in Eastern Europe. He became Associate Editor at Mathematical Reviews, which brought him and his family to the United States and to Ann Arbor, Michigan. Asen quickly became affiliated with the University of Michigan and started teaching as Adjunct Professor of Mathematics and Aerospace Engineering. He also connected with top mathematicians across the United States, which led him to serve as Program Director for Mathematical Sciences at the National Science Foundation from 2007 to 2009.
But life for Asen was not just about math. He loved the outdoors and he loved adventures. On any given day you could find him fishing on his boat at North Lake, swimming at Blind Lake, playing tennis in the neighborhood, hiking the Potawatomi trail, skiing in Hudson Mills Metropark or biking along Huron River Drive. Asen loved the high mountains he had first known in Bulgaria, and in the United States he found those high mountains in Colorado, Utah, Montana, and Washington, where he took every opportunity to find lakes full of fish. Asen also loved traveling and meeting mathematicians from all over the world.
Asen was a master at blending his love for his work, his love for the outdoors, and his love for his family and friends. Asen lived life fully and inspired us all.
A Celebration of Life is scheduled for 11am on Saturday, September 25th, 2021 at one of Asen’s favorite places, the Matthaei Botanical Gardens. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Asen's life. Because many of Asen’s colleagues and friends are around the world, we will do our best to host the event over zoom. Please check back for details.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Debbie’s Dream Foundation.
We welcome fond memories and expressions of sympathy at his obituary webpage.Asen Dontchev Obituary - Ann Arbor, MI (dignitymemorial.com)
