We are what we remember and also what we do not want to remember.
Forgetfulness is a good and necessary thing
[1].
On February 9th, 2021, at the age of 83, Professor Iván Antonio Izquierdo ([Figure 1]) passed away after a life dedicated to researching the molecular and physiological
mechanisms of memory. Prof. Izquierdo was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on September
16, 1937. He held an undergraduate degree in Medicine from the University of Buenos
Aires (1961), institution in which he also completed his doctorate, and a postdoctoral
degree obtained in the Brain Research Institute at the University of California, Los
Angeles - UCLA (1962-1964). He held successive teaching positions both abroad - Research
Assistant of Anatomy, UCLA (1964); Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, University
of Buenos Aires (1965); Professor of Pharmacology, University of Córdoba (1966) -
and in Brazil - Professor of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
- UFRGS (1973); Professor of Physiology, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal de
São Paulo - UNIFESP (1975); Professor of Biochemistry, UFRGS (1978); Professor of
Neurology and Chairman of the Memory Center, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio
Grande do Sul. He devoted 61 years to medicine, science and research, and five decades
to the study of memory and biochemical processes that regulate its formation, evocation,
and extinction and the phenomenon known as Endogenous State Dependence and the functional
separation between short and long-term memories ([Figure 2])[2],[3],[4].
Figure 1 Iván Izquierdo, a life dedicated to studies on memory and teaching, arousing scientific
curiosity in students with his thoughts and demonstrations. Memory Center Lab (PUCRS).
Figure 2 Prof. Izquierdo: from research planning to bench work at the Memory Center (PUCRS).
Prof. Izquierdo supervised over a hundred masters and doctors who excel in research,
teaching, and academic positions. In addition to a talented, innovative, and restless
researcher, he was member and director (for 12 years) of the Brazilian Academy of
Sciences, and also a member of the prestigious National Academy of Sciences (USA),
among others. His long academic career included the following positions: Professor
Emeritus of UFRGS and Honorary Professor of University of Buenos Aires and Córdoba;
Doctor Honoris Causa of Universidade Federal do Paraná and Córdoba; and member of
the editorial committee of 33 international journals. He was awarded the following
distinctions: Grand Cross of the National Order of Scientific Merit, commend of the
Order of Rio Branco; Odol Awards (CONICET 1965), TWAS (2005), Conrado Wessel (2008),
Raíces (CONICET 2011), Admiral Álvaro Alberto (2011), and UNESCO for Life Sciences
(2017). Prof. Izquierdo published over 600 peer-reviewed scientific articles and 24
books ([Figure 3]) not only about his research field, but also decoding science for lay people and
about everyday life[5],[6]. Izquierdo was a cultured man, who liked good literature. Jorge Luis Borges was
his favorite writer and he frequently quoted one of his short stories, Funes, o Memorioso
[7]: “Más recuerdos tengo yo que los que habrá tenido todos los hombres desde que el
mundo es mundo.”
Figure 3 Francisco, the three-year-old grandson at the time, inspired the literary text; questions
about memory and memory share the neuroscience of the laboratory with society.
Prof. Izquierdo propelled the Brazilian research in memory onto the international
stage, in addition to training and motivating countless neuroscientists. He leaves
an invaluable scientific legacy, and a legion of friends and students, and Brazilian
neuroscience itself, still under the impact of his loss. We have lost a great man,
a talented scientist, and a noble master. Iván leaves his wife Ivone, two children,
and four grandchildren.
Interviewer: “And have you imagined that this would be your journey?”.
I. Izquierdo - “Yes, but we always make mistakes, right? But I thought it would be
something like what my journey has been. I somewhat did what I wanted. What I wanted
to be or do, I was and I did. So yes, it is what I have imagined, with some differences,
because many things have changed along the way, there were some unexpected changes,
like when we left Córdoba, but anyway, I do think so”[8].
