Clemens Heine initiated and formed a very important project in my life, which has already become one of my main areas of development. This project is also important for many authors and my colleagues and the editorial board, it opens new opportunities and brings the Journal of Mathematical Sciences to a qualitatively new level.

We started discussing the idea of organizing a journal on Operator Theory and Harmonic Analysis. This idea arose on the basis of the activity of the OTHA conferences and workshops, that I have been developing since 2011. From the very beginning Clemens Heine was very attentive and supportive of the above idea and negotiated in a way that softly pushed the situation towards an even larger project.

At a certain point he eventually came to me with the idea of forming a direct submission section in the Journal of Mathematical Sciences (now it is called Series A). This was somewhat unexpected, because the project itself is much wider than what I had in mind, and in a different situation I would have refused. But the trust and mutual understanding that we developed between us due to his sincerity and openness and clear position convinced me to trust the process and trust the new ideas.

Further development proceeded lightly and naturally, as always happens in such a case, in which the right person offers the right and understandable idea. Clemens Heine initially offered complete freedom of actions and oversaw the process in terms of the Springer Nature publishing house's regulations but gave absolute freedom in academic terms. He always was able to find time in his busy schedule to discuss various details.

At the OTHA 2021 conference (22–27 August 2021), it was Clemens Heine who announced the formation of Series A in the Journal of Mathematical Sciences and outlined the basis of our agreement. The stage of forming the editorial board passed quickly enough, and by the end of October 2021 we were ready to start the process, having agreed on the scope and policies of the new journal.

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On the photo: Clemens Heine announces the start of the Series A in JMS

The mentioned feature of lightness is not superficial, it is a feature of an experienced leader who can clearly state basic details and understands that the process needs to be controlled only at basic reference points. Clemens Heine have also given to us, all participants of the project, totally moral support and faith in the implementation of the project which is the most important factor in any endeavor. It was an honor to work with Clemens.

As of today, we achieved the goal that we stated with Clemens Heine, for the 2022 year for Series A: there are 6 issues, at least 10 articles in each. Among the authors are from more than 25 countries. Nowadays many scientists from all over the world, authors, members of the editorial board, guest editors and reviewers are working together in the new and fast developing project called the Series A in the Journal of Mathematical Sciences, which was proposed and initiated by Clemens Heine.

Clemens Heine passed away on December 15, 2022.

I will always keep warm memories of our collaboration.

Alexey Karapetyants.

Editor-in-Chief Journal of Mathematical Sciences (Series A).