Spiroff, Kiril, 1901-1981

Kiril Spiroff was born in Bulgaria on April 21, 1901. He arrived in the United States as a young boy and grew up in Michigan, graduating from Michigan College of Mine (now Michigan Technological University)s. After completion of college in 1923, he moved out west to pursue a job as a mining engineer. After 10 years laboring in the working world, Spiroff returned to Michigan College of Mining and Technology (now Michigan Technological University) and earned a master's degree in geology in 1933. He worked for the Seamann Mineral Museum at $0.25 per hour under Dr. C.O. Swanson, then head of the department. He also taught a few classes and held the position of a lab instructor and became an assistant curator in 1935. After Seaman's death, Spiroff was appointed curator in 1938. Spiroff's influence on and work in the museum was constant throughout his years of teaching, mining engineering and consulting. It was due largely to his friendly and knowledgeable influence that the museum received countless donations from various individuals in the mineral industries and at least two very large private collections. Spiroff was also well known for his support of the Michigan Tech hockey program, counseling players, providing scholarship money, and recruiting players for coaches Amo Bessone and Al Renfrew. The MTU training room is named in his honor today as a result of his actions. (excerpted from A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum, "Curators," http://www.museum.mtu.edu/information/Curators/spiroff.html, accessed Jan. 2010 and http://www.michigantechhuskies.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=18800&ATCLID=1256620

Geologist, teacher at Michigan Tech, and onetime superintendent at Isle Royale Copper Company.