Academician Andrei Andriesh – prominent physicist, science organizer, man of a great humanity

The article is dedicated to physicist Andrei Andriesh (1933–2012), the founder of the School of study of non-crystalline semiconductor materials in the Republic of Moldova, academician, president of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova between1989–2004.  It is emphasized his contribution in establishing of unusual properties of chalcogenide glassy semiconductors resulting in increasing of interests to these materials. Briefly are considered his childhood and youth, family, friends and like-minded people, the first steps into science in the Ioffe Physical Technical Institute in St. Petersburg (Russia), foundation of the research group and scientific researches in Institute of Applied Physics of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, international collaboration as well as the didactic, administrative and social activities. The main scientific results obtained in research groups headed by Academician Andriesh are chronologically recounted and   the contribution of his numerous disciples is mentioned.