Remembrance Vladimír Pavlík

Vladimír Pavlík left us forever on 27 February 2025.

Vláďa was part of the team of people who brought the Internet to the Czech Republic, or more precisely, connected the Czech Republic to the global Internet. He was able to talk about this period very beautifully and with humour. He was one of the last living true experts on the first commercial Unix platforms, such as the SunOS and later Solaris operating systems from SUN. Managing these systems was a real art, comparable, for example, to playing the violin, which he also mastered.

At CESNET, for many years, he was primarily responsible for electronic communication services that allowed users to talk to each other remotely, share information, data, stay in touch, and form interest groups. With some exaggeration, it can be said that it provided services that were the precursors of today's social networks. He contributed to their development with his work, knowledge and dedication. He took great care in communicating with users and solving their problems. He was a pioneer of letter services, especially towards groups. Several generations of librarians will surely remember him fondly, the "Library" conference is the oldest (since 1993) still actively used conference not only in CESNET but also in the country.

Vláďa was from a generation that grew up not only without computers, but also without calculators. Perhaps this also contributed to his phenomenal ability to calculate not-so-simple numbers from his head. For many years he was therefore a key person at the CESNET General Meetings, faster than a calculator.

But what must be appreciated most about Vlada was his honesty in his approach to his work and also his enthusiasm and unquenchable desire to be useful and not to neglect his users. He worked as hard as he could despite his deteriorating health, always polite, always humble, always dedicated.

Few people knew that Vlad loved the mountains. As long as his health served him, he liked to go hiking with his friends. He was a great companion, who ever went on a hike with him, fondly remembered it. Among those with whom he roamed the mountains was Pavel Vachek, who also left us a few weeks ago.

We have already mentioned that Vláďa was a great violin player. He loved music all his life, he had an incredible collection of albums of different genres and artists. As a farewell we send him a song by a Czech band:

I raise my glass to the fallen ladies,

for the lost sailors,

for those who are no longer with us,

but they were - and for that, thank you...