Alexander Masis

I am Ilia's friend since 1994, we met here in this country. I, and likely anyone who knew him, remember his very wide and open smile, very open personality. At that first evening on "forum" in Boston we (my wife Dina and I) met many people, but remarkably we remember this moment very vividly. Ilia came over to me with his usual warm and open "Privet, menia zovyt Ilia Krasik"... I did not catch his last name properly the first time, but instead called him "Karasik." Dina and I very often then called him "Karasik", just because it was funny and somewhat "podxodilo ego personality"... There were many nice moments we spent together, I don't think they are very interesting for other people; like Ilia and Ania (his wife at that time) and my wife and I bought our used furniture together at then, helped each other to load and unload and drive that truck to that new home for us and new for home for Ilia and Ania. And many other small and not so small stories, but there is one maybe called interesting, now...

3 years ago, January 2nd, I think, we, Ilia and Ania and Vitalik and Olga (3 families total) flew to Cancun (Mexico?!..). We spent a wonderful week there. Then on one of the last days, while on the beautiful beach, I was taking last video of the sea and sand and people and very nice warm weather on that January day. At that moment Ilia says into camera: "A ti snimaesh tiajelye janvarskie tychi?..". Ever since then we often recalled this Ilia's remark, or joke. Then while we were getting ready for Ilia's funeral (Jan 9th, 2000 ), we played the video one more time, just to hear him saying again "tiajelye janvarskie tychi.." All of a sudden on the right lower corner of the TV screen: "Jan 9th, 1997"...

Sasha Masis, Ilia's friend
Durham, NH.

P.S. Also, I'm attaching the last mail I got from Ilia. He rented a house in NH and we, along with some other friends, were to join him and Lena to celebrate the year 2000 and hear his stories about Orizaba... 

Subject: Direction for Jan.1
Date: Wed, 22 Dec 1999 11:23:53 -0500
From: "KRASIK, ILYA" 
To: "'Alexander Masis'" ,
     "'dina@asme.com'"
     ,
     "'Dozorets, Yelena'" ,
     "'varsh@concentric.net'" ,
     "BELAKURSKI, ALEXEI"
     

Dear friends,
The house, I have rented, located in Waterville Valley.
Here is the direction:
Rt.93 North Exit28 turn Right on Rt. 49
Turn Right again on the First light  and go untill the
Family store. Turn Left just after the Family store and
Right on Reservuar Rd. Then make the first Left turn
and  our house will be the first house on
The hill on your Right hand side. See you Jan.1 at 6p.m.
over there.
The phone#  over there is (603)726-3221
Regards,
Ilya
Sent by Alexander Masis alex-m@mediaone.net

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