Former Technion president Professor Yitzhak Apeloig passes away aged 81

Professor Yitzhak Apeloig, a distinguished Israeli scholar and former president of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, died on Thursday at the age of 81. His tenure as president, from 2001 to 2009, was marked by substantial academic growth and strategic advancements for the institution.

Technion President Prof. Uri Sivan lauded Apeloig's leadership, stating, "Despite national and global crises, his years in office were marked by exceptional academic development, the establishment of new research centers, faculty recruitment, and the advancement of international collaborations.” Sivan also highlighted Apeloig's research as "ahead of its time," particularly in computational tools for predicting molecular properties and in organosilicon chemistry.

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Despite national and global crises, his years in office were marked by exceptional academic development, the establishment of new research centers, faculty recruitment, and the advancement of international collaborations.

Apeloig's presidency occurred during a tumultuous period for Israel, including the Second Intifada, Operation Defensive Shield, and the Second Lebanon War. Despite these challenges, he focused on expanding interdisciplinary research, increasing investment in research and infrastructure, and doubling funded research and scholarship support. He also promoted the integration of diverse populations, including ultra-Orthodox Jews and Ethiopian Israelis, into the Technion community.

Born in Bukhara, Uzbekistan, in 1944 to Polish parents fleeing Nazi invasion, Apeloig emigrated to Israel as a child. He served in the IDF and fought in the Yom Kippur War. After completing postdoctoral studies at Princeton University, he joined the Technion faculty in 1976. His distinguished career included membership in prestigious academies and numerous international honors, such as the Humboldt Prize and the Schrödinger Medal.

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Distinguished Professor Apeloig led the Technion with quiet confidence and steadfast leadership, guiding it to new heights in academic research and in the Technion’s impact on the State of Israel and beyond.