Zbigniew M, Bzymek
It is with deep sorrow that I am writing the words of farewell to my dearest friend, Professor Emeritus Roman Solecki. He was my instructor, teacher, mentor and colleague. He has had a great impact on my education, professional work and more generally, on my life.
It seems like not long time ago when I met him being a student in Poland in 1953. Classes, meetings, project studies and work with him were always fascinating intellectual adventures. He was an Associate Advisor of my PhD thesis and was instrumental in bringing me to this country. Being his friend was my privilege and a great distinction. Conversations and discussions with Roman were always pleasurable adventures. He was very interesting and brave person. A participant of an underground academy in occupied Poland, a soldier of the Polish underground army and a Nazi prisoner in Germany, Roman was full of very interesting memories, wise insights and fascinating stories originated from his own experience. His art of conversation, good humor and amusing jokes made hearing about those personal adventures most interesting. His engineering knowledge, design experience, research practice and engineering achievements made him fascinating leader of research and design teams. His knowledge of European history, practical fluency in several European languages, good humor and jokes always made listeners smile and enlivened conversations with him. He was a remarkable person, talented engineer, exceptional structural mechanics specialist, outstanding educator, renowned academician, true humanist, an absolute gentleman and - a real Renaissance man. His departure is an immeasurable tremendous loss. Good bye Roman. When you left us, we lost a great human being. We will cherish the memories of you forever.
In bidding you farewell, we will keep the memories of you in our hearts: Zbigniew, Danuta and Family Bzymek