Robert J. Niedzielski

1936 - 2021

(News story)
By Mike Sigov
Blade Staff Writer

Robert J. Niedzielski, a longtime University of Toledo chemistry professor and administrator who volunteered for church and community, died Nov. 8 at ProMedica Flower Hospital. He was 85.

He had multiple myeloma and complications from pneumonia, a son, Michael Niedzielski, said.

"He was a very affable and accessible professor," his son said. "He loved to teach, but then he also liked the administrative part.

"He enjoyed being part of the UT community," he added. "And I was always amazed how many people knew him and respected him - whether that be faculty, students, alumni, or administrators."

Mr. Niedzielski retired in 1993 from UT, where he was hired in 1965 as an assistant professor of chemistry, made a full professor about 1971, and then continued teaching until he was appointed acting chairman of the UT chemistry department in 1981.

He held that position for a couple of years. Later, at different times, he was associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences and associate vice-president for academic affairs in the provost office - the position from which he retired.

Mr. Niedzielski was a past president of the UT chapter of the American Association of University Professors, a past chairman of the UT Faculty Senate, and a member of the American Chemical Society.

Prior to UT, he taught chemistry for three years at the University of Windsor.

In retirement, Mr. Niedzielski taught chemistry part-time to UT undergraduates until he retired permanently in the early 2000s.

He then volunteered to teach adults how to read through Read For Literacy at the Toledo Lucas County Public Library.

Additionally, Mr. Niedzielski was UT's representative in the Ohio Council for Higher Education Retirees.

Over the years, he also was active in area educational organizations such as Central Catholic High School, where he was on the board of directors, and Aquinas College, of Grand Rapids, Mich., where he was a past president of the alumni board of directors.

Born Feb. 27, 1936, in Bay City, Mich., to Evelyn and Clemens Niedzielski, he got a bachelor's degree from Aquinas College in 1958 and a doctoral degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1962, both in chemistry.

In his free time, Mr. Niedzielski liked to travel with his wife of 63 years, Mary Ann Niedzielski, in the United States in states such as Louisiana, Alaska, and Utah, and in Europe, in countries such as Poland, the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland.

He also enjoyed playing tennis, baseball and bowling, and was a "huge" UT sports fan, his son Michael said.

Mr. Niedzielski was a longtime member of the St. Pius X Catholic Church, where he was a lector and choir member.

He was preceded in death by two brothers.

Along with his wife, Mary Ann Niedzielski, surviving are his sons, Robert, Jr., John, Andrew, and Michael Niedzielski; sister, Jacqueline Murphy; five grandchildren, and a great-grandson.

Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Walker Funeral Home, 5155 W. Sylvania Ave.

A funeral Mass will begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 3011 Carskaddon Ave.

The family suggests tributes to Read for Literacy Inc. or Society of St. Vincent de Paul at St. Pius X Parish, Toledo.