Richard Walter Kolaczkowski
1935 - 2025
Richard Walter Kolaczkowski
1935 - 2025
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Richard Kolaczkowski Obituary
Richard Walter Kolaczkowski, age 89, passed quietly at home in Urbana, Illinois on April 7, 2025, following a long illness brought on by multiple strokes. Born to Vincent and Anelia Majieko Kolaczkowski in Woonsocket, RI, Richard graduated from Woonsocket High School in 1952 and the University of Rhode Island in 1956, where he met his wife of 67 years, Sylvia Smith.
He began his teaching career at Monmouth University in Long Branch, NJ before moving to Indiana, PA where he taught General and Physical Chemistry at Indiana University of Pennsylvania for 30 years.
Preceded in death by his parents, sisters Anne and Vicki (Ted) Gruzka, and brother Vincent (Barbara), Richard is survived by his son Stephen and his wife Elaine, his daughter Susan DeNomme and her husband Al, daughter Anne Kolaczkowski-Magee, his grand-daughter Kathrine DeNomme, his grand-daughter Ellen Magee, numerous nephews.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
1 Entry
Cathy G Schloemer
July 5, 2025
I am so sorry to learn of Dr. K's passing. He was my professor for Chem I and II at IUP so very long ago. So many good memories and funny moments. Every day, asking first thing if anyone had questions. Every day, some guy named Charlie from the back of the room - Charlie always had a question! Dr. K always took out his pocket watch at the start of class, looked at it, taught the lesson, looked again - and it was always perfectly time for the class to end. How did he do it? One day he came in and started to talk in "ubby dubby"? We were floored - whaaat?? He explained this silly "language" involving putting an "ub" before every vowel sound. Soon this whole class of college students was speaking in "ubby dubby"! He taught my lab section too. I remember saying we HAD to call him Dr. K because if we said his whole last name, the lab would burn down before he could get to us to intervene in an emergency. Silly - yet somehow that made him smile. I ran into him socially some years ago, many years after he had been my teacher. He said, "I think I know you." Without his trademark handlebar mustache, I did not recognize him. I asked him to say his name, and he got a little twinkle in his eye: "Dr. K!" What a delight. The moments came flooding back. He was a wonderful teacher and just such a nice guy. I was not a science major, but I signed up for his class because a friend encouraged me to take him. What great advice! So blessed to have had Dr. K. as my teacher - and, Anne, I was blessed to have you as my student too. Please accept my deepest condolences.
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