Boris Belov
08.11.1990
Belov Boris Alexandrovich
Engineer, died on 08.11.1990 in the fire of the atmospheric electricity pavilion at the Mirny station
***
Liliya, Boris Belov’s wife, reminisces:
‘I entered the Leningrad Electrotechnical University in 1974. We lived in one residential hall. I met Borya there. He was very smart and pure-hearted, it was a pleasure listening to him. We married on October 22, 1975. In April 1976, our sweet little son came into this world, our first-born, our Alexey. We got a dormitory at Voeikovo. Our life was fun, and we were so tight. Seven years passed like that.
We thought it would always stay the same: we love each other, he works, I wait for him… He would fly a lot, measuring atmospheric electricity, and I kept waiting.
And then the opportunity came to go to Antarctica. I didn’t object. Although I realised he was going to be away for a while, I knew how to wait. I was going to wait, ‘cause I loved him so much. The first expedition ended, another one began in a year. He said, “You know, I like Antarctica a lot, it’s very interesting to work there!” Being a woman, I am selfish, but I couldn’t do anything about it: for the sake of his happiness, I would wait.
In 1979 we had a lovely daughter. Borya was so kind. He was always radiant, he had that gaze full of love. I don’t think I ever saw him being sad. He would always support us, he knew how to lighten the mood, he joked a lot.
In 1989 he left for his last expedition. There was a final call, he told me, “Each day we’re getting closer together. A year passed, 6 more months remain. I’ll be back when spring comes.”
It happened on November 8. They were sitting in the mess-hall, playing chess. He loved playing chess. Then he said, “I think I’ll go get some rest,” and left. In a while the fire broke out. When they got to the balok (cabin on rails) where he lived, he had already burnt to death.
And that was all the guys told me. “It was terrifying because we could do nothing about it. Things burn to a crisp in a heartbeat there!”
I’m so happy I had that kind of person in my life. Someone who granted me those years, though they were fleeting, and I’d like to have more, but it seems it was meant to be that way. I was happy.’
Engineer, died on 08.11.1990 in the fire of the atmospheric electricity pavilion at the Mirny station
***
Liliya, Boris Belov’s wife, reminisces:
‘I entered the Leningrad Electrotechnical University in 1974. We lived in one residential hall. I met Borya there. He was very smart and pure-hearted, it was a pleasure listening to him. We married on October 22, 1975. In April 1976, our sweet little son came into this world, our first-born, our Alexey. We got a dormitory at Voeikovo. Our life was fun, and we were so tight. Seven years passed like that.
We thought it would always stay the same: we love each other, he works, I wait for him… He would fly a lot, measuring atmospheric electricity, and I kept waiting.
And then the opportunity came to go to Antarctica. I didn’t object. Although I realised he was going to be away for a while, I knew how to wait. I was going to wait, ‘cause I loved him so much. The first expedition ended, another one began in a year. He said, “You know, I like Antarctica a lot, it’s very interesting to work there!” Being a woman, I am selfish, but I couldn’t do anything about it: for the sake of his happiness, I would wait.
In 1979 we had a lovely daughter. Borya was so kind. He was always radiant, he had that gaze full of love. I don’t think I ever saw him being sad. He would always support us, he knew how to lighten the mood, he joked a lot.
In 1989 he left for his last expedition. There was a final call, he told me, “Each day we’re getting closer together. A year passed, 6 more months remain. I’ll be back when spring comes.”
It happened on November 8. They were sitting in the mess-hall, playing chess. He loved playing chess. Then he said, “I think I’ll go get some rest,” and left. In a while the fire broke out. When they got to the balok (cabin on rails) where he lived, he had already burnt to death.
And that was all the guys told me. “It was terrifying because we could do nothing about it. Things burn to a crisp in a heartbeat there!”
I’m so happy I had that kind of person in my life. Someone who granted me those years, though they were fleeting, and I’d like to have more, but it seems it was meant to be that way. I was happy.’
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