The paper is dedicated to the memory and scientific heritage of Mariy Anatolyevich Svechnikov, an outstanding researcher and teacher, founder of the Ural school of study of close binary systems and author of the classification of eclipsing variable stars. The paper provides a brief overview of the major life events and main scientific achievements of M.A. Svechnikov. The best memory is the continuation and development of those scientific directions to which he devoted his scientific activity. The research initiated by M.A. Svechnikov was continued in the works of his apprentices and followers at the Ural State University, Chelyabinsk State University, Chita State University, etc. The paper is based on a talk presented at the astrophysical memorial seminar “Novelties in Understanding the Evolution of Binary Stars,” dedicated to the 90th anniversary of Professor M.A. Svechnikov. © 2023, Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.