A lighthouse shines through the darkest hours, a steady beacon of security against storms. A sign stands tall, radiating light, confidence, and calm. This has been the enduring lesson from Santiago Grisolia, the illuminating force of science in the Valencian Community. His spirit infuses the renewed humanism of this land with scientific purpose.
Grisolia was a figure who never needed anyone to push the idea that a gift should stay quiet. He was an optimistic soul, a young man who would soon reach a centennial milestone in five months. A century of productive life lay ahead, and everyone anticipated it. He seemed to defy nature with vitality and that familiar gleam in his eyes, a person who appeared impervious to age and fatigue.
In Valencian science, he became the essential atom, the driving force behind progress. A man born before penicillin who supported the human genome project through UNESCO, he stood as a giant bridging yesterday and tomorrow. The President of the Consell Valencià de Cultura recognized a truth that great teachers know well: wisdom rests in humility, and what matters most is what one can do for others, not personal gain. His life illustrated that message in action.
This generous outlook shaped two core traits admired from the first encounter, four decades ago. The collaboration with Professor Grisolia for the Rei Jaume I awards emerged under the Generalitat’s banner, demonstrating a humanistic view of science. He embodied the idea that knowledge and reason form the basis of a free society and that the path of science should illuminate rather than confine. When he guided people toward daylight, he did so with a lantern that never dimmed. His efforts helped bring Spanish science closer to society, economics, and classrooms, and many would say his most enduring discovery was this democratic revolution in science, a dream shared with Jaume I.
A second civic virtue stood out: his commitment to society and belief in institutional integrity. Grisolia carried part of his life in the United States, where he encountered the best values of democracy during his interactions with leaders such as President Truman. This exposure reinforced his conviction that public and private support for science must be strong. The scientist who began work in a wartime hospital run by the CNT carried with him the sense that medicine holds a transcendent responsibility. He spoke not in abstraction but with lived experience, asserting that in times of crisis, science must be a lifeline. He urged a future where science receives the recognition and resources it deserves, not just in times of peace but during challenges that threaten life itself.
Today marks a sorrowful moment. Santiago Grisolia has passed away. The scientific community loses a friend and ally, a renowned researcher who earned recognition such as the Prince of Asturias Award for Scientific Research. Yet the teacher remains a constant guide, moving ahead whether on foot or in a wheelchair, already anticipating a time when he would depart. He left behind a lighthouse built with an eternal glow, a burden of light that continues to guide. His greatest legacy is the Rei Jaume I Awards, a symbol distinguishing excellence, effort, and talent. This isn’t merely a prize; it is a statement about the science of honor and its role in society. His life reminds society of the horizon that light can reveal, dispelling darkness and inspiring future generations. This enduring lesson stands as Grisolia’s final gift to the community: may the light keep burning, and may the path be ever clearer for those who follow.