Dr. Alexander Klimov

1943 - 2013

Dr. Alexander Klimov obituary, 1943-2013, Atlanta, GA

BORN

1943

DIED

2013

FUNERAL HOME

Eternal Hills Funeral Home and Cremation

3594 Stone Mountain Highway

Snellville, Georgia

Alexander Klimov Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Feb. 6, 2013.

Dr. Alexander Ivanovich Klimov, known to everyone simply as Sasha, passed away on Tuesday, February 5. He was born in Moscow, Russia, to Ivan Klimov and Nina Babkina, and was the youngest of three sons. He is survived by his wife, Marina Khristova; son Petr (Elena); daughter Tanya (Russell Carleton); five granddaughters: Varvara, Ksenia, Natalia, Leah, and Alisa; brother Stanislav; and several nieces and nephews.
Sasha worked for many years as a virologist, a job that allowed him and his family to relocate to Atlanta. He spent over 20 years working at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, focusing on influenza vaccine development. He was a leader and a mentor, with collaborators all around the world, and is remembered for his patience, humor, and kindness.
Sasha was a devoted and loving husband, father, and grandfather, who spent 43 years adoring his wife, countless weekends playing with his kids and grandkids. He loved seashells and miniatures, and collected coins and stamps. He was a dabbling artist, creating, particularly, caricature portraits of the people in his life. He was known for his intelligence, broad knowledge of numerous subjects, quick wit, and, most of all, his kindness.
The funeral service will be held at Eternal Hills Funeral Home on Saturday, February 9, at 1 pm, with visitation starting at noon. A light reception will follow at the funeral home.

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March 26, 2013

Sandra Smole

I was lucky enough to interact with Dr. Klimov trhough our influenza surveillance program in Massachusetts. We are deeply sorry for his family's loss. We will miss his scientific expertise and contributions within the national and international influenza arena.

March 19, 2013

Pat

Marina,
Please accept my sympathy in the loss of your husband. May God be with you and your family during your time of distress. Ps. 34:17

March 8, 2013

Sharon Daves

I was saddened to recently hear of Sasha's passing; I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Sasha and his lovely wife, Marina, during my time in the Flu Division and in the years after leaving the division. No matter how busy Sasha was, he was never too busy to invite you into his office for a cup of tea and a piece of chocolate. He was not only a kind man but a brilliant man as he was able to make the complex appear so simple with his thorough explanations and his unique addition of art to all his presentations.

The world of public health has lost a champion for influenza. Hugs to Marina and his family as you go through this huge loss for your family.

February 26, 2013

P

"Sasha was a good mentor and the best friend to all influenza virus surveillance people worldwide and will sadly missed"
Pagbajab Nymadawa (Mongolia)

February 19, 2013

Maria Paz Carlos

Thank you for your guidance and mentorship Dr. Klimov. We will never forget your global contributions in the field of influenza prevention and control. Thank you for your efforts and dedication during the 2009 Pandemic Influenza. You will be missed Sasha.

February 17, 2013

Marc Sprenger

It is a truism that influenza experts never die. It is therefore sometimes a greater shock when one does die, especially a great one like Sasha Klimov. I don not think many or any of us in Europe even realised how unwell he was, and that has intensified the sense of loss. His contributions to virology are numerous and others will list those better that I can. So perhaps on behalf of ECDC I can take a different approach and paraphrase one of our junior staff describing Sasha's personal touch. “During my very first WHO meeting Sasha was sitting next to me during the dinner. He was entertaining company and a true gentleman, telling of his career and past and his work at CDC with infectious enthusiasm. He was always helpful during those meetings educating a young colleague in a friendly and gentle way. And always with a twinkle in his eye. Afterwards he always took time to patiently reply to our many questions.� During my very first stay at the CDC Influenza Branch he was an incredible support and introduced me patiently in the fascinating molecular world of influenza. I will never forget your gentle support.

A loss to the world. Our condolences and feeling go to his family, and his and our colleagues in CDC.

Marc Sprenger, Director, ECDC
For the ECDC Flu Contributors
Zero Akyol, Andrew Amato, Julien Beaute, Eeva Broberg, Bruno Ciancio, Massimo Ciotti, Johan Giesecke , Kari Johansen, Maarit Kokki, Piotr Kramarz, Teymur Noori, Angus Nicoll, Pasi Penttinen, Francesca Pesce, Signe Ridance, Carmen Varela Santos, Rene Snacken, Svetla Tslova, Phillip Zucs

February 15, 2013

Susan

He was always kind.

February 14, 2013

Sergey Netesov

I knew him for many years as a very good scientist, colleague and friend. He was always very kind and patient to me and my colleagues who arrived for a few days to CDC, and his New Year greetings were full of humour and good feelings! We all here in Novosibirsk, Russia will remember him for all our lives.
Sergey Netesov (Novosibirsk)

February 14, 2013

mei shang

I was lucky to have a talk with Sasha on March 2012. He is approachable and knowledgable, taught me things in short time with patience and kindess. I will always remember him.

February 14, 2013

Miguel Iguala-Vidales

He was an example of dedication and human quality, I am going to live grateful to God for giving me the blessing of having known him, he was an invaluable support during the integration of surveillance of influenza in Mexico and during the pandemic 2009 ¡¡ thank you Dr. Klimov !! you will live in my heart

Sincerily

From Mexico

February 14, 2013

Irina Roitman

Dear Marina, Petya, and Tanya

Our deepest condolences on your loss.
We cherish the memories of our Moscow neighboring years, and neighboring years here, in North America.
Sasha's smile and his friendship will stay with us forever.

Roitman's family - Irina, Sasha, Lenya, Zhenya
Moscow/Canada

February 13, 2013

I looked at the photos before I read the obits. I saw the kind, patient and loving person that you had to be and that was portrayed. May God help your family thru the grieving process that must be gone thru and have mercey on your soul and that you are basking in HIS rays. I am your son in law, Jake Carleton's sister, Arlene,

February 13, 2013

I am greatfull for knowing such a great person. We will all miss his kindness and humor. Rebecca Dallidis (Atlanta, GA)

February 13, 2013

Dear Marina, I was so shocked and saddened to hear of Sasha's death. Although I retired many years ago, I have thought of him frequently and remember his fine work on influenza and wonderful personality. My sincerest sympathy to you and your family. Best wishes, Harriet Walls

February 13, 2013

Marc Sprenger

It is a truism that influenza experts never die. It is therefore sometimes a greater shock when one does die, especially a great one like Sasha Klimov. I don

February 13, 2013

Michael Shaw

It is hard to believe that such an important part of our Influenza family is gone. The hole remaining is huge but we are all better for having had Sasha in our lives. Always available, never too busy to talk, he will always be in our hearts. Farewell to a dear friend and colleague.

February 13, 2013

Elena Burtseva

February 12, 2013

Gary Grohmann

Grateful to have met Sasha and appreciative of his warmth, humour, hospitality and enthusiasm. The strain selection meeting in Geneva will be different without him and we will all miss him.
Gratitude for the work done and the legacy left behind.
Benediction to the soul gone free.
Love to his family.

February 12, 2013

Floy Brandt

My sincere condolences to Sasha's family. He was a scholar and a gentleman.
He will be missed.

February 12, 2013

David Swan

Dear Marina, I am so sorry to hear of Sasha's death. My thoughts are with you and your family.

February 12, 2013

Linda Tlapa

It greatly saddened George and I when we received the news of Sasha's passing. Our prayers are with his family during this difficult time.

February 12, 2013

Colleagues at the FDA

Our deepest condolences to Sasha's family on their great loss. We will miss his wisdom and humor and the advice he was always willing to give when we had questions about influenza viruses, especially during the 2009 pandemic. His loss will be felt throughout the HHS scientific community .

February 11, 2013

Yury Gendon

With a deep regret I've learned about the death of Sasha Klimov. I had a good luck working with him for many years. Sasha was very talented and serious scientist and at the same time easy and cheerful person. Many of his scientific results obtained in our lab about functions of genes and mutations in ca strains of influenza viruses are cited until now. His New Year greetings were fun to read as well as his scientific papers in serious scientific journals.

Sasha's death is a heavy loss not only for CDC department he worked for and not only for CDC in general but also for all scientists studying influenza virus.

Yuri Ghendon

February 11, 2013

Misty Lang

I only had the pleasure of meeting Sasha once but in that brief moment it was an honor to be in the company of such an esteemed and revered gentleman of science. My thoughts and prayers are with Sasha's family at this time of great loss. May God bless you all with peace in knowing that he suffers no longer. I am grateful for his devotion to Virology and the significant accomplishments he shared with the world in the time we were blessed to have him on this earth.

February 11, 2013

Catherine Dentinger

I am very sorry for your loss and very grateful that Sasha worked with us for many years! Catherine

February 11, 2013

Maritza López-Muñiz

It is a shock and sad news to all of us at the Public Health Lab of Puerto Rico. It was a great pleasure to work with Dr. Klimov, especially during our first pandemic Influenza emergency.

We'll never forget when in the middle of the night I called him to help us with some Influenza kits, and in few hours he solved our problem.

Please, give our condolescences to his family and friends. Our prayers are with them. It will be a nice tribute to his memory to remember and to emulate all his kindness and engagement with public health and human services.

Thank you Dr. Klimov, and the Almighty Lord bless you,

Maritza I. López Muñiz, Acting Director, PR Public Health Lab
our condolescence

February 10, 2013

An HHS colleague

Dear beloved family of Sasha,
My deepest sympathies on the death of your husband, father, and grandfather.
Many of us had the honor and privilege of Sasha's wisdom, kindness, and humor. His shared knowledge, insights and guidance over years are cherished. On the few times I was in his office, he always proudly showed recent pictures of grand-daughters and his drawings, and then reminded me I had much to learn, and should “listen.” I will miss Sasha, his kind teasing, and I will keep listening. He touched our lives and his words will continue to guide and teach.
There are no words to describe how sorry I am for your loss,

February 10, 2013

Jim Carleton

Russell & Tanya: We're so sorry to hear about your dad. Losing a father is a very hard thing to go through, and something you'll never get over. As the years pass, you'll learn to accept it, and you'll hear him as you quietly ponder the questions you'd love to ask him if he were sitting with you. Our thoughts and prayers are with you both. Love Jimmy & Carol (Dayton, OH)

February 9, 2013

I always think of Sasha as one of the great scientists who helped build the Influenza Division at CDC, but I will remember him most for his kind and gentle nature.

~Paul Gargiullo

February 9, 2013

IRMA LOPEZ

I thank God for allowing me to meet Sasha, he was always a nice person, intelligent and bright, all who were close to him, we know all the contributions he made to the world of knowledge of influenza viruses, always take into the heart, our teacher. Irma López, National Influenza Center in Mexico

February 9, 2013

John Lednicky

My colleagues and I were truly saddened upon hearing that Sasha had left us. Apart from his scientific excellence with all matters dealing with influenza viruses, we remember him for his humanity. In particular, Sasha always dealt with our influenza virus-related inquiries with grace, endless patience, and humor. May he rest in peace.

February 8, 2013

Bill Grimme

When Sasha entered, the room became bright and the air became fresh. I am a better person for having known him. He was a blessing to us all.

Bill Grimme

February 8, 2013

Kathie McNeil (Gentry)

My deepest condolences, as his intellegence was a great contributor to the influenza research society and all who knew him. He will be missed both professionally and personally. Rest in peace Sasha!

February 8, 2013

Alan Kendal

Susan and I feel privileged to have known Sasha for more than 30 years. He was always clearly a scientist of great integrity, dedication and professionalism. Increasingly he became a key laboratory scientist at the heart of the always demanding global efforts to control influenza.

While coping with the extreme pressures of his career, he helped his family create a new life in Atlanta, and was so proud of them and their achievements.

Our deepest sympathies go to Marina and all of Sasha's family.

Alan Kendal

February 8, 2013

Gail Kunimoto

We were deeply shocked and saddened to hear of Sasha's passing. On behalf of the State of Hawaii Department of Health's Medical Microbiology Branch staff that worked so closely with Sasha and his staff, please accept our most heartfelt condolences on your loss. He will be missed.

February 8, 2013

Joe Bresee

It has been my honor to know Sasha. To me, Sasha's formidable intelligence, kind spirit, sly sense of humor, artistic nature, and passion for science and public health made him a giant, not only in the world of influenza, but in the world in general. He will be terribly missed, but remembered in our prayers.

February 8, 2013

Donna Sasso

My heart goes out to Sasha's family, I know you will miss him greatly. He was one of the nicest people I have ever met. He was so delightful to work with and for. I am very sorry for your loss and that I won't be able to make his funeral since I now live in Florida. Donna Sasso

February 8, 2013

Scott Becker-Executive Director, APHL

On behalf of the board, staff and members of the Association of Public Health Laboratories, we offer our sincere condolences to Sasha's family, friends and colleagues. He was a shining star, a helpful voice on the phone in many a crisis, an expert teacher, and a friend to public health laboratorians everywhere. He shall be missed.

February 8, 2013

I am so sorry to hear of Sasha's passing, he will be very much missed by those who knew him. His gentlemanly manner and quiet way made him always pleasant to be around.

Warmest regards,

Janice Knight

February 8, 2013

Feng Liu

I still remembered the moment that Sasha went to my "personal seminar" in 2012. His first word after walked into the meeting room is that there are two mistakes on the structure modeling. Everybody was laughing, and I realized that's a joke. This is just an example that how impressed people will be by Sasha's personality. I'll remember him forever, for everything he brought to the field of influenza and the society of public health.

February 8, 2013

Unknown Person

Although I never met this man but looking through photos it seems he really loved his family and was a happy person. I am sure our Savior Jesus Christ has his arms open welcoming him to his eternal home.

February 8, 2013

A CDC colleague

Sasha's contributions as a scientist and most importantly as a kind and considerate human being will always be with us. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sasha's family.

February 8, 2013

Raymond Strikas

To Sasha's family: My profound sympathies to you all for your loss. Sasha was a wonderful colleague, always helpful to those of us challenged by the mysteries of influenza, and always brightened my day with his wit.

February 8, 2013

Greg Gray

Sasha you were a outstanding representative of the CDC. I will remember you for your wise council and willingness to quickly help us when we asked you for assistance. I and many others will greatly miss you!

February 8, 2013

Roxy Cintron

Sasha is still an inspiration in my life. Simply an extraordinary man with a caring heart full of love. Every time I think about Sasha it brings a smile and only have good memories. Thank you Sasha for the time you shared with us, we love you so much!

February 8, 2013

Amy Vincent

I was so sad to hear about Sasha's death. This is a tremendous loss to CDC, his family and friends, and everyone who felt the measure of Sasha's kindness. He was encouraging and supportive of my work at USDA-NADC from the early days of our working together and I always felt I could count on his help, when or if I ever asked. I will miss the comfort and reassurance of knowing Sasha is there in Atlanta at CDC, miss his witty emails, and the friendship of a true collaborator since the very early days of my career. You are all in my thoughts.

February 8, 2013

OFFLU (OIE-FAO network of expertise on animal influenza)

We were sorry to hear about this sad news. Dr Sasha Klimov will always be remembered for his dedication to influenza research. Our deepest condolences to his family members and colleagues. May he rest in peace.

February 7, 2013

Mike Perdue

What a wonderful pleasure it was to have known Sasha and his work. The flu world and public health has lost a truly dedicated, knowledgable and first rate scientist

February 7, 2013

Masato Tashiro

Dear Sasha, it is very sad to hear you passed away after long fight. On behalf of WHO Influenza Collaborating Center in Tokyo, we thank you very much for your teaching us and great contribution to global public health and science. Wiithou your efforts and excellent interpretation and insight , it was almost impossible for us to respond to any unusual outbreak events as well as H1N1pdm and seasonal influenza. We have no longer opportunity to enjoy your wits and your snap-shotting drawings.
Masato Tashiro (NIID, Tokyo)

February 7, 2013

Kathy Hancock

Seeing Sasha at CDC always brightened my day. He had such a wonderful manner; kind, thoughtful, friendly, humorous. Thinking of him always brings a smile to my face and heart. Dear Marina and family, I hope you find comfort in knowing how much Sasha has meant to so many others.

February 7, 2013

Helen Regnery

I remember the first day I met Sasha. It was before he and Marina along with Tanya moved to the US. He had just arrived from Russia and was visiting the "Influenza Branch". At that time, I felt warmness from his personality. As time moved on, I came to love Sasha for being Sasha. Many others have experienced the many qualities of Sasha's being as I did for many years -- his kindness, humor, love, thoughtfulness, concern for others, a family man so proud of his grandchildren, loving to his wife and children, a professional and a contributor. For me, he was Sasha and he will forever be in my memory.
Marina, Tanya and Peter - My thoughts are with you. Spouses and parents are never gotten but, given time the memories become more like a reflection of fondness, love, gratitude, and appreciation of the blessings you all shared together as a family. Many of us have been where you are today. From our own experiences, we understand, we share your grief and are there for you.

February 7, 2013

Jennie Thomas

Our thoughts and prayers are with Sasha's family. He will really be missed by many, many people, as he was such a kind person and is very loved.

February 7, 2013

CDC

February 7, 2013

I have many good memories of working with Sasha at CDC. He was a pleasure to work with and a good friend to all in Influenza. He will be missed. God bless you and your family. May you find strength and healing in the knowledge that Sasha was so well thought of by all at CDC. I am so sorry for your loss. Sincerely, Renee Black

February 7, 2013

Julie Villanueva

I will always be grateful for Sasha's kindness, his brilliance, his wit, and his humor. I am honored to have known and worked with him. He was an inspiration to so many - the world is truly a better place because of Sasha. I am sending all of my love and strength to Marina, Tanya, and Peter and the entire family. Rest in peace dear Sasha.

February 7, 2013

Yuelong Shu

Dear Sasha, it is a shock and sad news, you already left, i am still looking forward to meeting you in Geneva soon in my previous Email. On behalf of Chinese National Influenza Center and WHO CC in China CDC, we really always appreciate your kindness and support for the influenza surveillance in China, I believe everyone in this field will remember you and love you, you will live in our heart forever.

God bless you and your family.

Yuelong Shu

Director of Chinese National Influenza Center
Director of WHO Collaborating Center for Reference and Research on Influenza
China CDC

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