GEOLOGIJA 33, 5-8 (1990), Ljubljana
Dne 22. februarja 1990 je umrl profe-
sor Štefan Kolenko, dolgoletni član Ge-
ološkega zavoda v Ljubljani. Kdo je bil
nekoliko zadržani in skromni profesor
Kolenko? Ko smo ob koncu štiridesetih
in v začetku petdesetih let prihajali
mladi geološki praktikanti z univerze na
Geološki zavod, je bil prvi človek, ki smo
ga tam srečali in imeli z njim stik, profe-
sor Kolenko. Bil je pojem slovenske ge-
ološke službe v tistih časih in še dolgo
potem. S krajšim presledkom, ko je odšel
na Geološki inštitut ljubljanske Uni-
verze je živel od leta 1948 z Geološkim
zavodom in za zavod in v njem leta 1983
dočakal svojo upokojitev.
Profesor Kolenko je prišel iz srca
Prekmurja, ki ga je imel poleg svojega
poklicnega dela vedno v mislih in kamor
se je tako rad vračal med svoje ljudi.
Rojen leta 1912 je svojo življenjsko pot
pričel v osnovni šoli v Črenšovcih, gim-
nazijo pa je obiskoval v Murski Soboti in
na IL drž. gimnaziji v Ljubljani, kjer je
maturiral. Po odsluženju vojaškega roka je študiral na Filozofski fakulteti v Ljub-
ljani in diplomiral leta 1940 iz biološke skupine. Odtlej se je prebijal skozi življenje
kot tajnik gimnazije v Celju, bil aprila 1941 mobiliziran, po razpadu Jugoslavije
bežal pred gestapovci v Ljubljano, se poročil, vrnil v Prekmurje in dobil službo
profesorja na gimnaziji v Murski Soboti. Leta 1943 je bil nasilno mobiliziran
v madžarsko vojsko, bil poslan na rusko fronto in dezertiral k Rdeči armadi. Od tam
se je po vojni vrnil v Celje, dobil na gimnaziji službo tajnika in pozneje profesorja za
naravoslovne predmete. Z učenci se je dobro razumel in pogosto je pravil, da mu je
bila ta služba zelo pri srcu.
Dne 1. avgusta 1948 je bil premeščen h Geološkemu zavodu Slovenije. Tu je bil
strokovni tajnik, glavni geolog, šef oddelka za geološko karto in inženirsko geologijo,
občasno vršilec dolžnosti direktorja, strokovni pomočnik direktorja, šef oddelka za
občo geologijo ter končno glavni in odgovorni urednik revije Geologija. Njegova
6	Mario Pleničar
glavna stroka je bila biologija s kemijo, vendar se je zavzeto izpopolnjeval v geologiji,
ki je bila njegov stranski predmet že med študijem na fakulteti. Geološko službo je
bilo treba po vojni organizirati tako rekoč iz nič. Ni bilo še niti ustreznih strokovnja-
kov. Geolog, ki je prišel z univerze, je moral prevzemati vse mogoče naloge - od
hidrogeoloških do iskanja mineralnih surovin, izdelave geoloških kart, prognoznih
profilov in dela v laboratorijih. Poleg tega, da nam je moral profesor Kolenko pri
vsem tem strokovno svetovati, mu je bila pogosto naložena še skrb za organizacijo
zavoda, za njegovo materialno in finančno plat. Preživljal je tako rekoč porodne
težave novoustanovljenega zavoda.
Kljub temu je že od vsega začetka mislil tudi na slovensko geološko revijo, ki je
začela izhajati pod njegovim uredništvom leta 1953. Do upokojitve je uredil 25 knjig
goologije, ki je bila in je še danes v svetu visoko priznana in upoštevana, kar med
drugim priča tudi zamenjava te revije z nad 300 ustanovami po vsem svetu in
pogostno navajanje njenih avtorjev in člankov v tuji literaturi. Bil je med ustanovite-
lji Slovenskega geološkega društva, udeleževal se je predavanj, ekskurzij in simpozi-
jev. Na tedenskih kolegijih, ki jih je v začetku tudi vodil, smo razpravljali o delu in
strokovni problematiki. Lahko rečemo, da je bil profesor Kolenko kot urednik
Geologije eden od oblikovalcev slovenske geološke vede in soustvarjalec slovenske
geološke terminologije. Številni mladi raziskovalci so skorajda podzavestno rastli ob
njegovih spodbudah in mentorstvu. Po njegovi iniciativi so začeli z delom petrograf-
ski, sedimentološki, mikropaleontološki in kemični laboratorij, ki razen kemičnega
delujejo še danes. Profesor Kolenko je bil med začetniki in pobudniki vseh teh
dejavnosti, ko pa je videl, da je delo uspešno steklo, se je vedno obzirno umaknil in
dal mesto mlajšim.
Za svoje delo je prejel nekaj pohval in odlikovanj že na gimnaziji v Celju in
pozneje na Geološkem zavodu, vendar je v svoji skromnosti te znake priznanja
navadno odklanjal. Bil je skratka človek, ki je malo govoril pa mnogo naredil.
Po upokojitvi smo ga še pogosto srečevali. Tudi tedaj ni mnogo govoril, vendar nas
je že njegova osebnost spominjala na prve povojne čase naših geoloških prizadevanj,
uspehov in neuspehov. Ob vsakem takem srečanju nam je ob slovesu zamišljeno
stisnil roke, kot bi hotel reči, da delo še dolgo ne bo končano. Ko ga je slovenska
zemlja, o kateri je toliko razmišljal, vzela v svoj objem, nam je ostal spomin na
delovnega čoveka, na profesorja Kolenka.
Mario Pleničar
In Memory of Professor Štefan Kolenko
On February 22nd, 1990, the yearlong member of Geološki zavod Ljubljana,
professor Kolenko deceased. Who was that slightly restrained and modest professor
Kolenko? When towards the end of forties and in the beginning of fifties, young
geologists were coming strait from the University to Geološki zavod, professor
Kolenko was the first man who received us. He represented then and still many years
later the leading concept of the geological profession. With short interruption, when
he left for Geological Institute at the University of Ljubljana, he had been living since
1948 with and for Geološki zavod where in the year 1983 he lived to see his
retirement.
Professor Kolenko came from the central part of Prekmurje, which besides his
professional work he was always keeping in his mind and heart, and where he kept
returning among his own people. He was born in 1912, finished primary school in
In Memory of Professor Stefan Kolenko	7
Črenšovci, grammar school in Murska Sobota and the II. State Gymnasium in
Ljubljana, where he passed his final examination. After he had served his time in the
army he studied at the Faculty of Arts in Ljubljana and in the year 1940 he graduated
from biology. Then he employed himself as the secretary at the Secondary school in
Celje, and in the year 1941 he was called up. After the decline of Yugoslavia he ran
away from Gestapo to Ljubljana, married, returned to Prekmurje and earned his
money as a professor at the Secondary school in Murska Sobota. In the year 1943 he
was mobilized under compulsion into Hungarian army, sent to the Russian front-line
and deserted to the Red Army. From there after the War he returned to Celje, got the
post of the secretary at the Secondary school and later the post of professor for the
subjects from natural sciences. He was always in good relations with his students and
he often said that he liked that job very much.
On August the 1st 1948 he was appointed to Geološki zavod Slovenije. There he
was a technical secretary, the chief geologist, head of the department for geological
mapping and engineering geology, from time to time he also performed the duties of
the manager, he was technical assistant to the manager, head of the department for
general geology, and finally the chief editor of the magazine »Geology«.
His basic profession was biology with chemistry, but he was eagerly perfecting his
knowledge of geology which was his by-subject already during his study at the
Faculty.
After the War the geological service needed to be organized practically from
nothing. Even the appropriate experts were missing. A geologist who came from the
University had to take over all kinds of tasks from hydrogeological ones to those
searching for mineral raw materials, elaboration of geological maps, forecasting
profiles, and laboratory work. Besides the fact that professor Kolenko had to give us
professional advice, he often had to care for the organization, economic and financial
situation of the company. He was going through the childbirth troubles of the newly
founded Geological Survey.
In spite of the fact that right from the beginning he was thinking of the Slovene
geological magazine, it started to be published under his editorship only in the year
1953. Till his retirement he edited 25 books of Geology which had and still has great
reputation in the world, what proves also the exchange of this magazine with over
300 institutions all over the world and frequent quotation of its authors and articles
in the foreign literature. Professor Kolenko was among the founders of the Slovene
Geological Association, he took part in the lectures, excursions, and symposiums. On
weekly meeting of the council, which he was in the beginning also leading, we
discussed about our work and professional problematics. One may say that professor
Kolenko was as the editor of Geology one of the creators of the Slovene geological
science, and the co-creator of the Slovene geological terminology. Numerous young
investigators were almost subconsciously improving, following his impulse and
mentorship.
According to his iniciative, pétrographie, sedimentologie, micropaleontologic,
and chemical laboratory started to operate, and all but chemical one are still working
today. Professor Kolenko was among the pioneers and initiators of all these activi-
ties, and when he saw the effects, he always tactfully retired and gave others the
opportunity.
He received the awards and orders already at the Secondary school in Celje and
later at Geološki zavod Ljubljana, but being so modest he usually declined them.
Briefly, professor Kolenko was a man for whom the actions spoke louder than words.
8	Mario Pleničar
After his retirement we often met. Also then he didn't talk much but his persona-
lity by itself reminded us to the after-war period, to our efforts, successes, failures.
On such occasions he thoughtfully shaked our hands at parting, as if he would wish to
say that our work was far from being completed.
When he died and was interred in his beloved Slovenia land, we remained with
the memory to a diligent man, to professor Kolenko.