Grigory Ivanovich Denisenko - an outstanding scientist, professor, doctor of technical sciences, corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Sciences. The scope his personality, inherent to him natural features and unique destiny. This enabled the village boy to become the Rector of the leading Polytechnic Institute, corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, a Hero of Socialist Labor. Destiny is unique because the creative energy of his personality has found specific embodiment, consonant with its era.
The life of Gregory Ivanovich was not covered with soft and beautiful track. He was born April 29, 1919 in a family of Ukrainian rural laborers from the village Khodoriv in Rzhyschevske district Kyiv region. In 1929, 10-year-old boy became an orphan and was brought up later in his older brother, who after graduating from Kiev Institute reclamation was sent to work in Shymkent. Gregory studied hard, physically strong, and then returned to his native land, came to Kharkiv. Successfully passed the exam and entered the Electrotechnical Institute, but the war interrupted the study. In 1929, 10-year-old boy became an orphan and was brought up by his older brother, who after graduating from Kiev Ameliorative Institute was sent to Shymkent. Gregory studied hard, became physically strong, and then returned to his motherland, arrived to Kharkiv, where he successfully passed the exam and entered the Electrotechnical Institute, but the war interrupted the study. Student Denisenko as a volunteer went to the front, was enrolled in Chuguyivsky regiment, but soon was recalled from the front. Command sent Grigory Ivanovich as a Millitary College teacher to Samarkand. There he met his future wife Zinaida Makarivna, who also was born in Ukraine. Then he worked as a lecture of the High Officers School of Mobile Artillery, but dreamed to finish higher education and in September 1946, having had experience of teaching, was again a 4th year student of Lviv Polytechnic Institute. Successfully graduated, Grigory Ivanovich remained to work in the same institute. Already in 1953 he defended his Ph.D. thesis, and in 1963 - doctoral.
Lviv period of life (1946-1971 years) was very fruitful. There have passed youth and formation of a teacher, a brilliant scientist and organizer of high school. Eight years he led the Lviv Polytechnic and left in this beautiful ancient city a good memory about himself. He created the scientific school on the problems of transportation of electricity with AC/DC General Grids. For development and creation of new educational complex of buildings of this institute he was awarded with the Prize of the Council of Ministers. Lviv citizens for a long time mourned about the fact that talented, soulful person has left them. Lviv Polytechnic proudly inscribed the name of Grigory Ivanovich Denisenko in its history as a pupil and outstanding rector forever.
Grigory Ivanovich was invited to work in Kyiv. It was true. Foreign delegation arrived to Kyiv, and to achievements of our country was included Lviv and Lviv Polytechnic Institute, because there were constructed modern buildings, enormous for those times equipped with modern technical facilities. It was the only higher education institution in Ukraine that was developing. The delegation included V.Yelyutin - Minister of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education of the USSR. Lviv Polytechnic Institute made an indelible impression on foreign visitors and Moscow guests. Then, on recommendation of V. Shcherbytsky Grigory Ivanovich was asked to lead the team of Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, to bring the level of metropolitan university to the modern, build KPI Campus and equip them with the latest equipment, technical facilities, to raise the level of educational and scientific work.
In KPI Grigory Ivanovich immediately joined the department of electrical networks and systems, under his leadership began research in the field of alternative energy, wind energy, solar rays, rivers, seas and oceans. He was the supervisor of the department of the Republican Scientific-Technical Program "Energocomplex" of renewable energy sources. Initiated by H.I. Denisenka first in the USSR were built testing ground "Desna" for combined use of renewable energy sources. Under his leadership, increased quality and quantity of Kyiv Polytechnic research works. The annual volume of research works has reached more than 20 million rubles, the economic effect from the introduction - 30 million rubles.
High criteria were put forward also to scientific work of students and young researchers. Grigory Ivanovich opened the gateway for young people in science. With his active support and care appeared a pleiad of young and energetic doctors who headed and created new departments in KPI in the future.
What a captain without a team? The team of Grigory Ivanovich was very strong. This outstanding, capable and talented people, some of them even today holding various positions in KPI, make a significant contribution in its development in today's complex environment. He could select people in his team and very rarely was mistaken, but in some people disappointed. On this occasion he said: "If a man cheats me once, let it be a shame for him, if cheats a second time, let it be shame for me." And still about the team, "If three people are united in their aspirations, they can simply turn clay into gold" - also one of of his favorite sayings.
Under the leadership of Grigory Ivanovich Kyiv Polytechnic Institute was revived and became a strong research institution. There were established teaching, research and production complexes of the leading research areas, built and equipped modern campuses, a dining room, a library and other facilities. Total area of classrooms and laboratories of Kiev Polytechnic was increased threefold. There was created a completely new management system of large polytechnic institute, which has been recognized in Ukraine and in the USSR. All-Union Science and Research Institute of high school problems recommended it to all universities of the country.
Not everyone accepted the Grigory Ivanovich idea about the six areas of training engineer (design, technology, research, social and political education, training and forming skills of educators, training in economics and management), but once upon a time it paid off: high quality training in Kiev Polytechnic has received international recognition.
Since 1971 to 1987 G. Denisenko was a chairman of Rector Council of Kyiv university center. In this position he was appointed after he became rector of KPI. This was due to the role of KPI in Ukraine and in the region, its power and authority and individual qualities of Grigory Ivanovich. Word, deed and by example he helped rectors of universities of Kyiv region. They all sought his advice, assistance, were glad to communicate with him at council meetings.
Since 1971 to 1987 G. Denisenko was chairman of Rectors Council of Kyiv university center. In this position he was appointed after he became rector of KPI. This was due to the role of KPI in Ukraine and in the region, its power as well as authority and individual qualities of Grigory Ivanovich. He helped rectors of other universities of Kiev region. They all wanterd his advice, assistance, were glad to communicate with him at council meetings.
In 1986 G.I. Denisenko became the second rector in Ukraine who was awarded the Title of the Hero of the Socialist Labor. He was immensely pleased this award. We who are accustomed to its rigorous and focused face first time saw Grigory Ivanovich so happy.
As head G.I. Denisenko was serious, strict at the same time truly humane, had a good sense of humor. The burden of problems was always with him. "Going to the car, he always sat in the back seat so that nothing prevented think, and at home after dinner - recalls his wife Zinaida Makarivna - secluded himself in the сabinet . On the strolls round the city also went alone with his thoughts. In Lviv, he wandered alone in the Striysky Park. However, communication with people has always left in his soul an imprint. Despite the exhausting routine, Grigory Ivanovich loved and was able to joke wittily. Once in the waiting room, I faced with the man who ran out of the office very confused. Grigory Ivanovich gave me her business card and asked for help. As it turned out this person holding a high position in Kiev, came to the rector of KPI with issue that concerned her: her niece getting a degree on one of the chairs, and its supervisor "does not pay attention to her." The Rector answered with short question: "And she deserves attention?" Blushing official ran out from Rector because realized the absurdity of his request. But Grigory Ivanovich nevertheless instructed to understand the problem, because his slogan was - to help people. All around, he said: "First of all, think how to help rather than to deny." Grigory was responsive and attentive to people, deeply spiritual and humble; communication with him was a school of wisdom. His difficult youth, orphanhood, war have laid the warm strings in his soul, and many of those who worked with him, will understand me.
His 60th birthday Grigory Ivanovich celebrated rather peculiar - disappeared. His wife reported that he sailed on the ship and has no address. All eulogies were in vain, Minister of Higher Education of the USSR was very angry and a lot of greeting cards with warm greetings and sincere wishes were delivered to Grigory Ivanovich home. After the holidays he personally answered to everyone in a form of written thanksgiving.
Great importance G.I. Denisenko attached to international scientific cooperation. His research papers have been published in the United States, Great Britain and Japan. In Japan, he read a report on the results of their research on renewable energy sources. Expand contacts with Poland, or more precisely with the Wroclaw Polytechnic. There were days of Wroclaw Polytechnic in KPI and vice versa. Grigory Ivanovich was an honorary doctor of Wroclaw Polytechnic Institute.
Grigory Ivanovich was sincerely and seriously regarded social work. In his grandiose plans has always relied on the party committee of institute. He was an active delegate of XXVI Congress of the CPSU and XXVII Congress of the Communist Party of Ukraine. At the XXVII Congress of the Communist Party of Ukraine was elected as a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party. He was a deputy of city council. He had many awards: three Orders of Lenin (1967, 1981, and 1986), Order of the October Revolution (1971), gold medal "Hammer and Sickle" (1986). The last award - Hero of Socialist Labor - shook the entire university community and all KPI. It raised the prestige of the university labor and scientists in society.
When Grigory Ivanovich died, was adopted a resolution concerning his burial at the Baikove Cemetery as an outstanding son of Ukrainian nation. In KPI he left a perpetual monument - the majestic campuses, libraries, palace of culture, dining and many others. Rector did not manage to make everything, due to lack of health. As chairman of the Council of Rectors he wanted to build a City Students Palace, boardroom of the Council of Rectors of KPI. But first of all he was trying to build everything for KPI. Name of Grigory Ivanovich, is immortalized by M. Zgurovsky: there is relief in the central part of the main Campus and the library is named his name. There is a memorial plaque in the best university library in Ukraine.
Grigory Ivanovich was an outstanding scientist in the field of production and distribution of electricity and his scientific achievements noted the scholars of KPI, Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and abroad. I want to mention the other side of his activities directed to humans, people’s daily problems and needs. He wanted to put to the service of human renewable energy sources, energy, solar energy, seas and oceans, rivers. Grigory Ivanovich asked the government to give land for horticultural cooperative staff of KPI for experimental area in which independent energy supply of every house was carried out by renewable energy sources. He did not have time to finish this field scientific experiment, but 60 families of KPI employees received free areas near the river Desna for permanent use. This is just a small bar of his interesting biography.
Grigory Ivanovich was creating everything for people and was a true hero of the labor. He never suffered from "star" disease. Highest ranks came to him, but he always was simple and kind with people. Grigory Ivanovich was able to distinguish between decent people from rogues, well understood people, although sometimes mistaken. He respected party workers. But among them were those who led the country into recession, stagnation. He once said, "Grabbed power, and do not know what to do with it." Grigory Ivanovich had the moral right to say so, because he used power only for peoples benefit, he did a lot for KPI`s future, upset that not all projects are implemented. Dreamed to connect all campuses with underground passages with escalators in case of bad weather. And he really wanted to see the 100th anniversary of the native KPI, but to this day Grigory Ivanovich did not survive. The tradition that developed in Kyiv Polytechnic Institute during the rectorship of G.I. Denisenka: sacredly honors supports and creatively develops current Rector Michaylo Zgurovsky.
This man lived very difficult but interesting life. There were sorrows and joys. He was a good family man, loved his children: son Oleg and his daughter Victoria. Unfortunately, daughter eaerly passed away, leaving her daughter Natalia. Oleg G. - Ph.D., associate professor. Now a widow, Zinaida Makarivna Denisenko surrounded by care and attention of his son and his family, granddaughters.
Grigory Ivanovich was unpretentious in everyday life. He liked simple food. Sometimes he said "I do not need anything. I have water, matches and gas. I do not need anything else. "Zinaida Makarivna recalls how he was so fascinated by the work and plans for KPI`s future that time to solve simple family problems just had to win. The greatest joy for Grigory Ivanovich was nevertheless estimation of his titanic work. He has already been sick, a lot of time spent in bed, but news about the establishment of his bas-relief in the main Campus raised Grigory Ivanovich mood.
G.I. Denisenko loved KPI and polytechnicians. His love inspired others. So I'll be happy if my story about a great man, an outstanding scholar and a gifted organizer in the system of higher education will help young generation, will be the impetus for thinking, to imitate all the best and valuable, that personified the Hero of Socialist Labor Grigory Denisenko.