Elizabeth Balcer-Kubiczek

"We are not content to pass away entirely from the scenes of our delight; we would leave, if but in gratitude, a pillar and a legend"~ Robert Louis Stevenson

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Elizabeth Krystyna Balcer-Kubiczek, who peacefully passed away on October 24, 2025 at Gilchrist in Towson, Maryland. She was a remarkable woman who was known for her quick wit, humor, intelligence, and thoughtfulness. Elizabeth's life was defined by her many accomplishments and enduring passions.

Elizabeth was the beloved mother of Eva Kubiczek-Love, cherished grandmother to Liam Wade, Andrzej Love, and Cole Wade, and adored sister of Ryszard Balcer. She was predeceased by her husband, Robert Zdzislaw Kubiczek, her father, Franciszek Balcer, and her mother, Janina Jozefa Krzemien.

Born on May 21, 1942 in Warsaw, Poland, Elizabeth made the courageous journey to Chicago, Illinois in 1970. With an insatiable thirst for knowledge, she earned a Master's degree in Nuclear Physics from the University of Warsaw in 1967 and a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park in 1981. Throughout her illustrative career, she held a faculty position at the University of Maryland Stewart and Marlene Greenebaum Cancer Center where she held countless honors and awards, taught future medical students and physicians and worked tirelessly in the field of Radiation Oncology.

Elizabeth married Robert Zdzislaw Kubiczek and embraced the joy of motherhood with the birth of their daughter. Her professional affiliations included memberships in Phi Beta Kappa, Radiation Research Society, Women in Radiation Research and the European Society for Radiation Research. She was also a member of the Our Lady Queen of Poland Catholic Church.

Elizabeth's love for life was evident in her varied interests. An avid reader, she enjoyed the writings of infamous murder mystery writers, most notably Agatha Christie, whose books she learned English from after arriving in the United States. Her musical taste spanned from Elvis and the Beatles to classical music. Among her favorite television shows was Masterpiece Theater, and she enjoyed solving the Washington Post crossword puzzle everyday.

Elizabeth appreciated Polish art and works by Indigenous people, and she cherished listening and attending performances of opera and the ballet, one of her favorite spectacles. Her passions included gardening, which she expressed through a beautifully designed English cottage garden that was enjoyed by all and featured on the Greenbelt Garden Walking Tour. She often sought respite at her favorite local spots; Greenbelt Cinema, New Deal Cafe, and Cedars of Lebanon. As for vacations, Elizabeth held a special place in her heart for the Southwest.

Elizabeth's greatest accomplishment, as she would often say, was becoming a U.S. citizen. Her legacy continues through her invaluable lessons in radiation biology and her deep appreciation for beauty. One of the greatest lessons she shared was the importance of perseverance, critical thinking and the desire to enrich the lives of others. Elizabeth's indomitable spirit, and her ability to see beauty in the world around her, will continue to inspire all who were fortunate to have known her. Service private.