Krystyna Kowalska – In Memoriam

11 09 2024

On September 6, 2024, we said goodbye to Krystyna Kowalska, the long-time secretary of the Institute of Zoology.

To us, the staff of the Institute of Zoology, she was simply ‘our’ Mrs. Krysia. She passed away at the age of 89. It’s hard to believe that just four years ago, already working part-time, she was still co-managing our office.

Mrs. Krysia was hired on November 1, 1966, at the Faculty of Biology and Earth Sciences, from which the Faculty of Biology emerged in 1969. She was a treasure trove of knowledge about the Institute of Zoology. She accompanied us in our daily work from early in the morning—always cheerful, kind, elegant, offering information and administrative support, and often just everyday, human help.

She was always available in her office—first, to the right of the entrance to the Main School, and later in the new building of the Faculty of Biology on Ilji Miecznikowa Street. She spoke of her time at the Main School with great fondness.

In addition to running the office, she helped shape the social life of the Institute—organizing staff gatherings in the Library during holidays and special occasions. She liked and respected people, and they liked and respected her in return. We trusted her completely, and she never let us down.

She was a person from another era—punctual, always prepared, always present. To this day, we remember Mrs. Krysia’s famous ‘notebook’, where she wrote down everything important: deadlines, tasks, our internal financial reports. She did this back in the days when we didn’t yet have computers (does anyone even remember those days?), and she continued even when there was a computer on every desk. In her notebook, no ‘files’ were ever lost—she often reminded us of the enduring power of paper and pen.

She used to say that the Institute of Zoology—by which she meant the people—was her second home. She knew how to cooperate, how to offer quiet advice while always remaining in the background. One Institute director after another couldn’t imagine their term without ‘our’ Mrs. Krysia.

Truly empathetic, she understood people and their concerns. Even when her health and strength began to fail, she hid her pain behind the warm, familiar smile we all knew. And so she stayed with us for 54 years.

A wonderful person, a wonderful secretary, a wonderful Mrs. Krysia.

Fortunately, we knew how to appreciate her work, her kindness, and her grace while she was still with us. We had the chance to thank her many times. And now, even though she is no longer with us, we thank her once again.

Let us remember the petite figure of our beloved Mrs. Krysia, as she would gently peek into each of our offices to deliver a message in person—never via a soulless computer.

The Staff and Students of the Institute of Zoology