Rev Dr Sergei Hackel (1931-2005)
The Rev Dr Sergei Hackel died suddenly on 9 February after a heart attack. He taught at Sussex from 1964 to 1988, retiring as Reader in Russian in the School of European Studies.
He had an unusual and distinguished career: during his time at Sussex he was ordained a priest of the Orthodox Church, served as Orthodox Chaplain, grew his 'trademark' massive black beard, and became a leading figure in London and Moscow church affairs.
He came into university teaching in his mid 30s after working as a school master and librarian in Cambridge; his parents, from a family of German origin but Russianized for generations, passed on to him a deep knowledge of Russian and European culture. He was expert in classic Russian literature, a genial teacher, and genuinely bilingual. While at Sussex he did a doctorate (resulting in an important book) on the poet Alexander Blok and his attitude to the Revolution. He edited the journal Sobornost (Eastern Churches Quarterly), and did a great deal of work for the BBC: many Radio 3 listeners will have heard his beautifully delivered commentaries to Orthodox Christmas and Easter Services.
He and his Russo-Irish family lived in Barcombe Mills in a fine house aptly called River Lawn: he often had to begin his journey to Falmer wading in gumboots through the flooded Ouse (one flood sadly brought havoc to his fine collection of books).
He was to the end a frequent visitor to the campus, and his soft-spoken but incisive comments will be much missed at seminars on religious or Russian topics.
Robin Milner-Gulland
Research Professor in Russian Studies