Rafal Fudala

To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die. -THOMAS CAMPBELL

Rafal Fudala, 46, of Fort Worth, TX, tragically passed away on July 4, 2022, while on a camping trip with his family. Rafal was born on January 9, 1976, to Krystyna and Michal Fudala in Lodz, Poland. He attended Lodz University, where he met his wife, Dorota Stankowska, and where he also received a Master of Science in Biochemistry in 1999 and a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology in 2004.

In 2012, after eight years at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Tyler, TX, as a Postdoctoral Research Associate, Rafal joined the University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC) in Fort Worth as an Instructor. With purely a biology background, he quickly became a fluorescence technology expert and was the main coordinator for many external and internal collaborative projects with scientists from UNT, UTSW, UT Arlington, UT Tyler, Hampton University, University of Montreal, Strathclyde University in Glasgow, and many higher education institutions in Poland. Everybody loved working with Rafal and typically such collaborations quickly grew into friendships. In 2017, Rafal was promoted to Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, a role he has held since.

Over the past ten years at UNTHSC, Rafal conducted research in fluorescence and probe development to create systems that cure cancer, especially rHDL-based delivery systems. He also served as a Graduate Advisor in Biochemistry and Cancer Biology and as the Director of the Lipoprotein Drug Delivery Research Laboratory. Rafal was highly committed to and passionate about education. His expertise contributed to training graduate students and postdoctoral fellows at UNTHS. Rafal was gifted and a passionate scientist. His ability to connect with students and help them comprehend challenging topics, both in the classroom and the laboratory, was phenomenal. He never turned down an opportunity, and he could manage multiple projects without missing a beat. If you needed something done, Rafal was always available and willing to help. Importantly, his spirit, boundless energy, and "can do" attitude meant he was not only loved by students but also by faculty and staff.

A devoted husband and father, he treasured the time he spent with his wife Dorota Stankowska (also a faculty member at UNTHSC), and young sons: Alex and Timmy Fudala, whom he considered his pride and joy. Rafal's cats Archie and Albert were his adopted children. Rafal loved spending time in nature, hiking, fencing, archery, gardening, learning, doing home improvement projects, helping others, playing ping-pong, and collecting knives. According to one passionate soccer fan from Scotland, Rafal knew more about European soccer than he did. There was no Korean or spicy Indian dish that Rafal did not like. Rafal saw the humor in all of life around him and was loved by those who knew him.. Rafal became a citizen of the United States less than two weeks before his passing, accomplishing a long-time personal goal. He would like to be remembered as a great family man, good friend, impactful teacher, and accomplished researcher. He lived a life well-lived, with integrity, conviction, a great work ethic, a joyous heart, and a helping hand.

Even in death, Rafal wanted to be helpful. He donated his body to science through the UNTHSC Willed Body Program (https://www.unthsc.edu/academic-affairs/center-for-anatomical-sciences/willed-body-program/ ).

A memorial service for Rafal will be held on Friday, July 8 at 2:00 p.m. at St Patrick Cathedral, 1206 Throckmorton Street, Fort Worth, 76102.

Everyone who remembers Rafal is asked to celebrate his life in their way, raising a glass of their favorite beverage in his memory. Instead of flowers, the family requests donations in Rafal's memory to the UNTHSC Office of Institutional Advancement for a student scholarship fund (https://www.unthsc.edu/give/).

Rafal is survived by his sons, Alexander, 8, and Timothy, 6, his wife Dorota, and his mother, Krystyna. He was preceded in death by his father Michal, and his brother Slawomir.

Godspeed, rest in peace, Rafal. We will all miss you.