Alexander Bleschunov Soviet mountaineer, explorer, collector Date of Birth: 25.08.1914 Country: Ukraine

Content:

1. Birth and Early Life
2. Graduated from the Odessa Institute of Marine Engineering (1939)
3. Became the first chairman of the section
4. Service in World War II
5. Post-War Career
6. Passion for Collecting and the Founding of a Museum
7. Legacy and Honors

Birth and Early Life

Born in Kharkiv in 1914
Moved to Odessa with his mother and nanny at the age of 5
Education and Professional Career

Earned a degree in chemical engineering from the Odessa Technical College of Canning Industry (1932)

Graduated from the Odessa Institute of Marine Engineering (1939)

Pioneering Role in Odessa Mountaineering

Founded the mountaineering section of the Odessa Oblast Committee for Physical Education and Sports (1936)

Became the first chairman of the section

Led mountaineering camps and scientific expeditions for over 30 years
Scientific Expeditions and Explorations
Organized the first Odessa mountaineering tournament (1939)
Led a scientific expedition to the Pamir Mountains (1940)

Collected valuable data on human and plant physiology at high altitudes (6,000 m)

Discovered the headwaters of the Bivac Glacier and expanded knowledge of the mountainous region

Service in World War II

Participated in the Battle of Stalingrad, the capture of Berlin, and the liberation of Prague

Awarded five orders: Order of the Patriotic War 1st class, three Orders of the Patriotic War 2nd class, Order of the Red Star, and 10 medals

Post-War Career

Supervised the construction of scientific research facilities in Armenia

Directed the problem laboratory at the Odessa Institute of Refrigeration Industry until 1974

Passion for Collecting and the Founding of a Museum

A passionate art collector

Established the first and only municipal museum of private collections in Ukraine (1989)

Named the Alexander Vladimirovich Bleshchunov Museum after its founder

Legacy and Honors

Served as the museum's director until his death
Died in Odessa in 1991
A peak and a pass in the Pamir Mountains bear his name

Mountaineer

Miho Nonaka	Ed Viesturs	Edurne Pasaban
Lincoln Hall	Sierra Blair-Coyle	George Mallory