MPO History - Dr. Asparuh Isakov Led MPO Through Turbulent Years

by Virginia Nizamoff Surso

Dr. Asparuh Isakov was at the helm of the MPO during turbulent years of internal strife. His presidency during the 1970s was marred by fragmentation in many different arenas that demanded constant guidance.

His wife Elizabeth explains, "He struggled very hard to keep the organization together. He tried very hard to preserve the bonds and make peace. Maybe not as much got accomplished at the national and international levels, but he worked very hard during a time when sentiments were riding very high."

She adds, "It was very difficult for us as a family because we were always very far away (Eastern Pennsylvania). We had to travel miles and miles to be with his people so he could speak with everyone and smooth things out."

Alex Tsakoff, who served as treasurer during these years, supports her statement adding that the Central Committee made many many trips to Toronto during Dr. Isakov's tenure. Both also mention transition within the office staff as a major source of problems within the organization.

The Isakov's met in 1963 while both were working at Mt. Sinai Medical Center, Chicago he as an anesthesiologist and she as a nurse in the operating room. Both had recently immigrated to the US he from the Balkans and she from Eastern Germany, the part that is now under Polish rule. Neither had any family in the US.

Soon after, they were married by Bishop Kyrill in a Russian Orthodox Church. Their son Alexander was born in 1965, and their son Christopher was born in 1969. Both sons were graduated from Scranton (Pa.) Preparatory School.

Alexander completed his pre-med undergraduate degree at the University of Scranton, and was graduated from the University of Pittsburgh Medical School. Presently he is in residency at the University of Massachusetts Hospital at Worcester.

He also has spent three years in the Navy doing research work at the National Research Institute, Bethesda, Md. He is a certified Navy diver and a member of the Navy Reserve.

Christopher was married recently to the former Mary Frances Turner. They met while she was a student at Washington and Lee and he was a student at the Virginia Military Institute at Lexington where he received a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. They live near Atlanta, Ga.

Mrs. Isakov works as a registered nurse in the Veteran's Administration system at Wilkes Barre, Pa. "I am very sorry Asparuh didn't see the boys finish school. He would have been very proud," she ponders explaining that after his death her main goal was to see that their sons received their education.

Dr. Isakov died May 15, 1989, after a lengthy illness. He had been involved in the Macedonian Liberation Movement since his high school days. He was born on Jan. 12,1914, to Dimiter and Velicha Isakov at Pleven, Bulgaria. He studied commerce and finance at Sofia and Varna and was graduated from the University of Zagreb School of Medicine in 1954.

Dr. Isakov's steadfast leadership and the support of his wife and children will long be remembered in the annals of the MPO.