Adriano Ostrogovich

Another famous student of Ugo Schiff was Adriano Ostrogovich, whose first name is often erroneously reported as Adrian. Despite what might lead one to believe from his surname, he was an Italian citizen, bom in Lecce on 16 August 1870 to parents of Montenegrin origin. 

Ostrogovich completed his higher studies in natural sciences, chemistry and physics in Florence, and with Hugo Schiff as his mentor, between 1886 and 1890, he obtained his bachelor s degree in chemistry when he was only 20 years old as he, himself, reported with deserved, yet undisguised, pride. He completed his doctorate, also directed by Schiff, three years later. 

In 1898, Professor Constantin I. Istrati (1850-1918) offered him an associate professorship in organic chemistry at the University of Bucharest, which prompted Ostrogovich to transfer to Romania. Occasionally moving from one university to another, he remained there for the rest of his long life, becoming a naturalized Romanian citizen in 1912. 

However, the chemist from Lecce maintained close, friendly contracts with Italy and with the Florence school. In fact, thanks to his influence, Hugo Schiff was elected an honorary member of the Romanian Society of Sciences in 1904 and, on the occasion of Schiff s 75th birthday, the Academy conferred on him a scroll of recognition for outstanding achievements in science. 

As a former SchiflF student, Ostrogovich is credited with introducing German rigor into the Romanian chemistry curricula. 

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On 3 January 1957, on the threshold of age 87, after a long and painful illness borne with lucidity and courage, Adriano Ostrogovich passed away in the arms of his son. 

Fontani M, Costa M (2010) Allievi di un ingombrante maestro Mario Betti e Adriano Ostrogovich. La Chimica e I lndustiia 6 116... 

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