I met Wlodek for the first time during the admission exams for PhD studies at the Faculty of Chemistry at the Jagiellonian University in 1980. Wlodek was a "man from the outside" because he graduated from the Cracow University of Technology. He wanted to continue his education at the Organic Chemistry Department. Much to my surprise, at the beginning of October, I met him in the Photochemistry Group headed by Prof. Najbar. Wlodek told me that we would be working together. During our work in the group I found Wlodek an independent and self-reliant person.

Wlodek was an enthusiastic tourist. I remember our trip to Beskid Wysoki Mountains, maybe in 1981. We decided to go from Babia Gora to Hala Miziowa in one day. It was quite a long trip. The weather was beautiful in September, the route wasn't difficult, and this probably made us a bit lazy during the trip. At about 7 pm we were stopped by a patrol of the Border Guard, the soldiers checked our documents thoroughly. Then we realized that it was very late and we may have problems finishing the trip before dusk. Wlodek decided that I should go ahead and arrange accommodation and food for us in the mountain-hostel where we were supposed to sleep. He would come later, since due to his ill leg he couldn't walk very fast. He told me not to worry about him, and that he would get to the mountain-hostel someway. So I went. When I was in the mountain-hostel (with trouble, because it was already dark) I arranged accommodation (on the floor), about food I could only dream (the kitchen was already closed). Having noticed that I took two matresses, the owner of the mountain-hostel asked me when my colleague would arrive. I answered that he would come latter. Then he asked me how was Wlodek equipped and if he had a slipping bag. I told him that Wlodek had it (he really had it). It was not possible to sleep that night. Every hour he woke up me and asked me about my colleague. Previous winter in the vicinity of the mountain-hostel (at the Pilsko mountain) a fatal accident had place and the owners of the mountain-hostels were very sensitive. Next day, at about 6.00 am, when I went outside I saw Wlodek coming down from the mountain. Wlodek found that he had no chance of making it to the mountain-hostel before darkness, and decided to sleep in the forest in his sleeping bag. When I told him that the mountain-hostel owner wanted to call the mountain rescue, Wlodek answered "I told you not to worry about me".

That's what Wlodek was like -- independent and knowing how to take care of himself.

Marek Mac


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