9
Jun
Obituary: Vaso Kacharava
Dr Vasil Kacharava, 68, the co-founder of the American Studies in Georgia, died from cancer in Tbilisi, Georgia.
The public wake ceremonies will be held on Sunday and Monday from 6 PM at the following address: Tbilisi, 5 Sulkhan Tsintsadze Street, 2nd entrance, 8th floor. On Tuesday, the funeral procession will start at 2 PM from the Ascension Church on Saburtalo Cemetery.
Professor Kacharava was a courageous scholar who never shied away from making bold statements that aimed to serve his homeland and the exclusive political relationship between Georgia and the United States – two countries he dedicated his life to studying, researching, and supporting. The U.S. Embassy in Georgia 'extends heartfelt condolences to Professor Kacharava’s family, friends, and beloved students'.
Vasil Kacharava was a brave man who fought an incurable disease till his last breath, setting an example of living despite a severe health problem. During the opening and closing ceremonies at the Annual International Conference of American Studies 2023, Professor Kacharava performed his usual wisdom mixed with intelligent humour and set plans for each participant, including himself. This was less than three weeks ago.
The substantial era has finished at Tbilisi State University with him gone. Professor Kacharava orchestrated many scientific events while helping students and young scholars, motivating colleagues, charging everyone around him with his undying optimism, creating reasons to make the Georgian society believe in a better future, that he will be irreplaceable as a mentor, as a friend, and as a role model of everything he represented as a person. He will be deeply missed by so many.
The BRAMS Institute team members and Professor Vasil Kacharava had an excellent relationship in many ways. Some of us mastered our professional skills at the American Studies Center and later at the American Studies Institute founded by Professor Kacharava, which prospered under his chairmanship. He was the spirit and engine of the International Conference on American Studies, which some of us from the BRAMS Institute regularly participated in during the last 21 years.
In 2018, Vasil Kacharava offered his former students the opportunity to launch similar institutions that would further American Studies all over Georgia. When we shared his idea, our dear Professor Vaso motivated the creation of a new Institute, later named BRAMS, and took a great deal in its progress throughout the tough pandemic years we all faced. His enthusiasm and joy at our decision to create another research organisation for spreading his lifelong work played a crucial role in the current existence of BRAMS Institute. He made the first generous presents at the 'baby shower' for BRAMS, and when unexpected problems popped up, Vasil Kacharava pushed us to be brave like him and keep following our original goal. Without our dearest Professor Vaso, BRAMS Institute would not be what it is or where it is right now. He was our pillar and our cornerstone at the same time.
The loss of a great friend and mentor has deeply saddened BRAMS Institute. We wish to express our sincere condolences and sympathies to his family, friends, colleagues, and students and share with you this moment of grief and mourning following the untimely passing of Dr Vasil Kacharava.
