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.