The Academy of Romanian Scientists expresses its deep regret at the departure of the late Academician Constantin Bălăceanu-Stolnici (6 July 1923-20 August 2023). He was an illustrious personality of Romanian science, education and culture, a versatile and encyclopedic spirit, a man of the Citadel, an aristocratic symbol of our history. Throughout a life spanning a century, through a prodigious activity in the field of medicine, multidisciplinary scientific research and academic education, through an impressive scientific and cultural work, Constantin Bălăceanu-Stolnici established himself as a prestigious name of the Romanian scientific and cultural elite. Among the emblematic qualities of a long and fruitful life, as was his life, are those of: university professor, PhD in Neuropsychiatry and Geriatrics, neurologist, honorary member of the Romanian Academy, founding member of the Academy of Romanian Scientists, member of the Romanian Academy of Medical Sciences.
Born on July 6, 1923, in Bucharest, descendant of the old noble family of Bălăcenilor, which played a significant role in the history of the Romanian Country, he attended the high school “I. C. Brătianu” in Pitesti, graduated from the University of Medicine in Bucharest in 1947, and in 1968 he obtained a PhD in Medical Sciences. Specialising in neuropsychiatry and geriatrics, he has developed a complex career, during which he has combined the medical profession with university professorship in an exemplary manner. He was a specialist neurologist at Colentina Hospital and at Dr. Cantacuzino Hospital, primary neurologist at Gheorghe Marinescu Hospital in Bucharest, primary geriatrician, head of department and general director at the National Institute of Gerontology, head of the Methodological Service of Neurology and Neurosurgery. At the same time, he was a preparator and assistant at the Department of Anatomy and the Department of Neurology of the Medical-Pharmaceutical Institute, substitute professor at the Department of General Cybernetics of the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Bucharest, professor of neuropsychology and anatomy of the nervous system, professor of history of culture and science, associate professor at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne (England), Pontifical University of Porto Alegre (Brazil), Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo of Santander (Spain), Catalan Medical Academy of Barcelona (Spain), College of Medicine of Paris (France). His areas of expertise were neuropsychology, anatomy and physiology of the nervous system, neurogeriatrics, practical geriatrics, postmodernist neuropsychology, general cybernetics, neurocybernetics, human personality, general and behavioural genetics, anthropogenesis and genesis of culture, history of culture and science. As a physician and scientist, he was a pioneer in the field of neuroscibernetics and a continuer of the school of geriatrics founded by Acad. Prof. Dr. Ana Aslan, who introduced geriatrics as a specialty in the Romanian health system. Until the venerable age of 100, Professor Bălăceanu-Stolnici remained involved and active in several fields, holding a number of positions: Testamentary Ephor of the Brancovenetian Settlements (Domnița Bălașa Church), Member of the National Assembly and of the National Council of the Romanian Orthodox Church, President of the Romanian Athenaeum Society, Honorary Director of the Institute of Anthropology “Francisc Rainer” of the Romanian Academy, Honorary President of the Ecological University of Bucharest, President of the Order of Malta Families in Romania, President of the International Anti-Drug and Human Rights Centre (C.I.A.D.O.) Romania.
Constantin Bălăceanu-Stolnici is the author of a prodigious scientific and cultural work, which includes books, monographs, studies both in specialist fields and in broader areas of science, culture and civilization. Among them: Elements of anatomy and physiology of the nervous system, 1948; Elements of Neurocybernetics, 1967; Human personality – a cybernetic interpretation, 1972; Neurogeriatrics, 1984; Anatomists in search of the soul, 1981; Dialogues on the seen and unseen, 1995; Treatise on Practical Geriatrics, 1998; Postmodernist Neuropsychology, 2000; Central structures of the nervous system, 2001; The Three Arrows – a study of national history, 1995; The Saga of the Barons du Mont – 900 years of European political and military history, 1995; The Saga of the Bălăcenilor, 2001; Introduction to the Study of Jewish and Christian Kabbalah, 1996; Kabbalah, Between Gnosis and Magic, 2004;Anthropogenesis and the Genesis of Culture, 2006; An Introduction to Anthropogenesis, 2006; General and Behavioral Genetics, 2008.
For his activity and work, for the merits proven during a long career, Professor Constantin Bălăceanu-Stolnici received important awards and distinctions: the Order of the Star of Romania in the rank of Knight; the Patriarchal Cross and the Moldavian Cross; the Maltese Merit in the rank of Officer; the Grand Prize of the French Society of High Syntheses; Doctor Honoris Causa of several universities in the country.
Professor Constantin Bălăceanu-Stolnici has covered a large part of the history of the 20th century and the first decades of the 21st century, has carried out a brilliant activity in the fields of education, science, culture and civilization, making a valuable contribution to their development through spirit, creation and knowledge. Heir and representative of an old Romanian aristocratic family, his lordship was, by genealogy, merits and conduct, a “Boer of the Romanian world”, a prestigious promoter of authentic spiritual and moral values in a society in dire need of models and landmarks. Trained in the medical sciences, physician and professor, he has constantly expanded his curiosity and research in cutting-edge fields of science and in the vast areas of culture and civilization, demonstrating a comprehensive and fruitful spirit in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary knowledge. An encyclopedic personality of Renaissance humanist nature, Professor Bălăceanu-Stolnici was, until his passing from this world, at the venerable age of 100, an active, curious and investigative spirit, committed to fundamental research and, at the same time, open to knowledge in the Age of Technology and Artificial Intelligence.
At the beginning of July 2023, on his 100th birthday, the Academy of Romanian Scientists awarded Constantin Bălăceanu-Stolnici, a distinguished member of the AOSR, the Diploma of Excellence for his Opera Omnia and the Jubilee Medal. The motivation for awarding the Diploma of Excellence was as follows: “for all his scientific, academic, professional, educational, cultural and social activity, carried out under the highest quality standards and under the auspices of the values of humanism, for OPERA OMNIA and his exceptional contribution to the development of the field of medical sciences, for a life dedicated to the edification through education, science and knowledge of the young generations and Romanian society, on the occasion of his 100th birthday”.
Today, at the departure of the illustrious academician Constantin Bălăceanu-Stolnici, founding full member of the Academy of Romanian Scientists, the academic community of the AOSR expresses its deep sorrow and regret for the farewell of the great scientist and professor. It is an irreparable loss for Romanian academic education, science, research and culture, of a prestigious scientific and cultural personality, of a symbol of our history and present.
The Academy of Romanian Scientists sends its condolences to the bereaved family and prays the Good Lord to place the departed in a better world among the Righteous, in eternal Light!
Communication and Public Relations Office of the Academy of Romanian Scientists
(Contact: comunicare.aosr@gmail.com )
20.08.2023
