With great sadness, ICCROM has learnt of the passing, after a short illness, of our former Council member, Dr. Lazar Sumanov on 9 May 2021. Lazar was an open and positive person, optimistic and hospitable. He was always active, working to support the cause of cultural heritage whether this was in North Macedonia, his home country, or elsewhere in the world.
Trained as architect, he specialised in the conservation of the built heritage, and received his Doctorate (DPhil) at the Institute of Advanced Architectural Studies of the University of York (UK). He continued at York as Visiting Lecturer for several years, and he also lectured at the École nationale supérieure d’architecture, University of Marseille, France.
He was employed at the Republic Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Macedonia, where he worked for some three decades. In his work, he was particularly aware of the risks of earthquake damage, joining with other colleagues in the study of preventive measures particularly in vulnerable structures, such as monasteries and churches. In agreement with the World Bank and the national government, he undertook a four-year project on Community Development and Culture (1999-2003). This included pilot studies at the local level on the involvement of the community, taking into account poverty reduction, socio-economic development, and the involvement of the community in heritage-related projects.
At the national level, he was involved in the encouragement and coordination of institutional development. One of his proposals was to search for collaboration and funding for the use of low-cost Digital Equipment and Methods for architectural heritage recording, documentation, and information management. In 2004, the Getty Conservation Institute published the report by his team on the Conservation and Seismic Strengthening of Byzantine Churches in Macedonia. In 2010, he also made the proposal for the implementation of the 1999 Second Protocol to the Hague Convention in Macedonia.
Lazar attended the ICCROM International Architectural Conservation Course (ARC) in 1986. In the following year, he participated in the Teaching Skills Seminar at ICCROM. It is characteristic of Lazar that when back at home, he organised presentations and interviews on television and radio about ICCROM’s activities. From 1997 to 2001, he was Member of the ICCROM Council, and attended several General Assemblies as a representative of his country, and often also representing ICOMOS.
In 1994, Lazar was the Founding President of the Macedonia National Committee of ICOMOS. From 2005 to 2008, he was member of the Executive Board of the International Committee of ICOMOS and also a member of the ICOMOS Academy. After his retirement from the government service, he dedicated his time to support the activities of ICOMOS in North Macedonia as well as being internationally active in heritage conservation issues.
The Director General, Webber Ndoro, and colleagues at ICCROM carry a fond memory of Lazar as a remarkable conservation professional, always positive and optimistic, which is very much needed in the heritage field.
Jukka Jokilehto