In Memory of Professor Anton Stoilov

“He was a shy guy, who, however, had the kindest soul of anybody that I had ever met in the university,” said Samuil Mladenov, a fourth-year student. This sentiment echoes at AUBG after the sudden loss of one of its most beloved and respected members - Prof. Anton Stoilov, who passed away on March 5, 2026.   

 

 

To his students, Prof. Stoilov was never just a lecturer or an advisor. He was a mentor, a quiet source of encouragement, and, for many, a role model. Despite his constantly busy schedule, consisting of teaching at AUBG and SWU, conducting research, advising The Hub, and guiding senior theses, he never seemed too busy for conversations with students.

 

In addition, he served as the Chair of the Computer Science and Information Systems Departments at AUBG, a role in which he had to combine leadership with empathy and thoughtfulness. “I think that everyone appreciated his courtesy and his helpfulness,” said Prof. Yavor Angelov. “In department meetings, he was always kind of a balancing force between the hardliners within the community.” 

 

“He was everywhere,” said Nikolay Ninov, AUBG Class of ’24, describing Prof. Stoilov as a “superhero” in his eyes. Yet, it was not the number of roles he held that made him extraordinary, but the way he carried them with patience, humility, and genuine care for the people around him. 

 

That same quiet kindness defined his relationships with colleagues. “He would often use humor to make his point and soften the message,” said Prof. Emanuela Mitreva. That kindness in the way he communicated is something that stays with you.”

Prof. Narasimha Rao Vajjhala shared a similar experience about working with Prof. Stoilov. “He was always smiling and very friendly. These are the things that instantly come to my mind when I think of him. And whenever he saw me under pressure, he was always trying to help me.” 

 

For many, this willingness to help was not occasional. It was constant, almost instinctive. Students felt that presence just as strongly.  

 

His classroom was not only a place of learning, but also one of comfort and understanding. Petya Dimkina, Class of ’25, recollects that his presence alone made the classroom feel less stressful, even during heavy exams.  

 

Prof. Stoilov was also The Hub's advisor during Petya’s first year at the university. “I've never met another professor who was so interested in what the club is doing, what the students are doing,” said Petya. “He was constantly there for you to ask questions. He was very passionate about his job, about the students, about the university, and about the whole community surrounding him.” 

 

His dedication extended far beyond formal responsibilities. In a tribute written for AUBG POSTSociety, Prof. Vajjhala recalled the story about their first meeting when he was just arriving in Blagoevgrad. One that would come to symbolize who Prof. Stoilov was as a person. Without hesitation, he welcomed his newly arrived colleague, guided him through the campus and the city, and even took him grocery shopping and carried his bags to the front door. 

 

It was never about the gesture itself, but the principle behind it. 

 

“He told me that when he first joined AUBG, another colleague had done the same for him,” Vajjhala said, “and he considered it his responsibility to carry that kindness forward.”  

 

That idea of kindness as something to be passed on was at the core of who he was. 

 

According to Prof. Angelov, being a good person was the most important thing for Prof. Stoilov, something he considers rare in the modern world. “He excelled at improving the academic process, but also took into consideration the human side of things - communicating with people, building something together.” 

 

 

His impact on AUBG is both visible and invisible. It lives in the resources he helped provide, like access to the ACM Digital Library, in the countless senior projects he guided, and in his tireless support for The Hub. However, it also lives in something less tangible - in the culture of care and connection he helped build. 

 

“I feel like if you look around campus, you can literally see his work everywhere, even though you don't know,” Petya said.  

 

Beyond the classroom, he was a father, a friend, a mentor, a vivid Alfa Romeo and Chelsea fan. Words may fall short of fully capturing who Prof. Anton Stoilov was, but the memories he leaves behind speak with clarity. 

 

“I hope that everyone who knew Prof. Stoilov will bring a piece of him everywhere they go,” Mladenov said.  

 

In that sense, his presence remains, carried forward in the people he taught, the colleagues he supported, and the community he helped shape.

 

The AUBG Daily team expresses its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Prof. Anton Stoilov. Though his passing leaves an immeasurable loss, his legacy will continue to live on in the hearts of those who knew him. 

 

Rest in peace.

 

This article has been written with the joint effort of Vasil Paskov and Bilyana Spasova. 

Editor: Toma Krumov