Pathetic Facts

Polish musicians died when they were 79

Here are 12 famous musicians from Poland died at 79:

Jerzy Passendorfer

Jerzy Passendorfer (April 8, 1923 Vilnius-February 20, 2003 Warsaw) was a Polish film director.

He studied law at the University of Vilnius and then began working as a journalist. During World War II, he fought against the Nazi occupation and later became involved in the Polish underground resistance movement. In 1944, he was arrested and sent to a concentration camp, where he was liberated by the Red Army.

After the war, Passendorfer became a film director and made his debut with the short film "The Gateway" in 1950. He went on to direct numerous documentaries, short films, and feature films throughout his career, including "The Search" (1959), "Hot Springs" (1968), and "The Second Circle" (1990). He also worked as a professor at the National Film School in Łódź, where he taught directing.

Passendorfer was known for his socially engaged films that dealt with important issues such as poverty, inequality, and social injustice. He received numerous awards and recognitions for his work, including the Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta and the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Film Festival. He is considered one of the most important and influential Polish film directors of the 20th century.

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Teodor Narbutt

Teodor Narbutt (November 8, 1784-April 5, 1864) was a Polish writer, journalist and engineer.

He was born in Byten, a village in present-day Belarus, and studied at the Vilnius University. Though best known for his historical works, Narbutt began his career as an engineer, serving in the Polish Army's corps of engineers, and later worked as a journalist. He is primarily remembered for his three-volume "History of the Lithuanian Nation" (1836–1839), which remains an important work on the subject. Narbutt also authored a number of other historical and ethnographic works, and was actively involved in the cultural renaissance of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the early 19th century. He died in Warsaw in 1864, and is regarded as one of the most important Polish historians of the 19th century.

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Marian Jurczyk

Marian Jurczyk (October 16, 1935 Karczewice-December 30, 2014 Szczecin) also known as Mayor Marian Jurczyk was a Polish politician.

He served as the mayor of Szczecin, a city in northwestern Poland, from 1990 to 1994. Jurczyk was a member of the Solidarity movement that played a pivotal role in bringing about the downfall of communism in Poland. He was also a prominent activist in the struggle for workers' rights and social justice in the country. Jurczyk continued to be active in politics even after leaving the mayoral office, serving as a member of the Sejm, the lower house of the Polish parliament, from 1997 to 2001. Throughout his career, Jurczyk was strongly committed to improving the quality of life for Polish citizens, particularly those living in disadvantaged communities.

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Jerzy Zaruba

Jerzy Zaruba (July 17, 1891 Radom-April 5, 1971 Warsaw) was a Polish graphic designer.

He studied at the School of Fine Arts in Warsaw and later in Berlin. Zaruba was associated with the Formist movement in Poland, which rejected traditional forms of art and promoted a more abstract and geometric approach. He designed numerous posters, book covers, and illustrations, often using bold colors and striking compositions. During World War II, Zaruba was imprisoned in Auschwitz and Dachau concentration camps. After the war, he continued his career as a designer and also worked as a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. Zaruba was awarded the Order of Polonia Restituta for his contributions to Polish culture. He is considered to be one of the most important Polish graphic designers of the 20th century.

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Adolf Krzyk

Adolf Krzyk (December 25, 1907-April 5, 1987) was a Polish personality.

He was a notable athlete who competed in the javelin throw at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. Throughout his career, he set several national records and was considered one of the best javelin throwers in Poland.

Outside of athletics, Krzyk was also a teacher and dedicated his life to education. He taught physical education and was known for his passion for sharing his knowledge with his students.

During World War II, Krzyk was involved in the Polish resistance against the German occupation. He worked as a courier, delivering messages and transporting secret documents. He was eventually arrested and sent to a concentration camp, where he spent three years before being liberated by the Allies.

After the war, Krzyk returned to his career as a teacher and continued to coach sports teams. He was known for instilling his values of dedication and hard work in his students, and many of them went on to successful athletic careers.

Krzyk passed away in 1987 at the age of 79, leaving behind a legacy as both an accomplished athlete and a respected educator.

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Bronisław Hager

Bronisław Hager (April 5, 1890-April 5, 1969) was a Polish personality.

He was a sculptor and medalist who is known for his contribution to the arts in Poland during the 20th century. Hager studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków and later became a professor at the same institution. He is credited with creating several monuments, sculptures, and medals that are still celebrated for their artistic value. Some of his famous works include a monument to the Polish-Danish alliance in Warsaw, a bronze statue of Nicolaus Copernicus in Toruń, and a medal dedicated to the heroic stand of the defenders of Westerplatte. Additionally, Hager was involved in the reconstruction of several Polish historical sites that were destroyed during World War II. In recognition of his artistic contributions, he was awarded several honors including the Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, one of the highest civilian honors in Poland.

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Kazimierz Michałowski

Kazimierz Michałowski (November 11, 1901-January 1, 1981 Warsaw) was a Polish personality.

He was an archaeologist and art historian, who is best known for his excavations at the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria. In addition to Palmyra, he also led several other important excavations in Poland and Egypt. Michałowski was also a professor at the University of Warsaw, and served as the director of the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology. He was a recipient of numerous awards for his contributions to archaeology and cultural heritage, including the Order of the Builders of People's Poland and the Legion of Honour from the French government. Despite his achievements, however, he was also briefly imprisoned by the communist authorities in Poland during the Stalinist era, before being released and resuming his work. Today, his legacy lives on through the continuation of his excavations and the numerous publications he authored throughout his career.

Stanisław Zaremba

Stanisław Zaremba (October 3, 1863 Romanivka-November 23, 1942 Kraków) was a Polish mathematician.

He was born in what is now Ukraine but at the time was part of the Russian Empire. Zaremba studied mathematics at the University of Kiev and later moved to Paris, where he earned his doctorate at the Sorbonne. He then worked at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris and later at the University of Lille, where he became a professor in 1902.

In 1919, Zaremba returned to Poland and began teaching at the University of Warsaw. He also founded the Mathematical Society of Warsaw and served as its first president. Zaremba made significant contributions to the study of partial differential equations, topology, and the calculus of variations. He was particularly interested in the theory of elasticity and the mathematical analysis of electromagnetic fields.

Zaremba's work was highly regarded by his peers and he received many honors during his lifetime, including the prestigious Italian mathematician Luigi Cremona Prize in 1903. After his death in 1942, the Mathematical Society of Warsaw established the annual Stanisław Zaremba Prize in his honor, which is awarded to young mathematicians for exceptional research.

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Roman Opałka

Roman Opałka (August 27, 1931 Abbeville-August 6, 2011 Chieti) was a Polish personality.

He was a painter and conceptual artist known for his lifelong project entitled "Opalka 1965/1-", which involved painting a series of consecutive numbers beginning with one and continuing until his death. Opałka's work focused on the passage of time and the existential nature of human existence. He was a member of the Paris-based conceptual art group BMPT and his work has been exhibited in museums and galleries throughout the world. In addition to his artistic career, Opałka was a professor of art at the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.

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Antoni Szymański

Antoni Szymański (July 30, 1894 Poznań-December 11, 1973 London) was a Polish personality.

He was an artist and a writer who became a prominent figure in the Polish émigré community following World War II. Szymański was educated in both Poland and Germany and later studied at the Académie Julian in Paris, where he began to develop his artistic style. His paintings were frequently exhibited in Poland, France, and the United States.

During World War II, Szymański was imprisoned in a concentration camp but managed to escape and fled to London, where he continued to paint and write. He became involved with the Polish government-in-exile and worked as a cultural attaché for the Polish embassy. After the war, Szymański helped organize exhibitions of Polish art in the United Kingdom and remained a vocal advocate for Polish culture throughout his life.

Szymański published several books on art and played a significant role in the establishment of the Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum in London. He was also awarded several honors for his contributions to Polish art and culture.

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Józef Świeżyński

Józef Świeżyński (April 5, 1868 Wlonice, Gmina Ożarów-February 12, 1948 Sandomierz) also known as Jozef Swiezynski or Dr. Józef Świeżyński was a Polish politician and physician.

He studied medicine at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow and later became a licensed physician. Świeżyński was an important political figure in the early 20th century, serving as a member of parliament in the Polish Sejm from 1919 to 1927. He was also a co-founder of the Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe (Polish People's Party) and served as the Vice-President of the party. Świeżyński was a leading advocate for improving healthcare in Poland and was involved in numerous initiatives to improve medical infrastructure and education throughout the country. He was an important figure in the establishment of the Public Health Corps, a paramilitary organization tasked with improving sanitation and hygiene across Poland. After World War II and the Communist takeover of Poland, Świeżyński was exiled to Sandomierz where he lived until his death in 1948.

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Mieczysław Halka Ledóchowski

Mieczysław Halka Ledóchowski (October 29, 1822 Poland-July 22, 1902 Rome) was a Polish personality.

He was a Jesuit priest and a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. Ledóchowski was also the 26th Superior-General of the Society of Jesus, a position he held from 1865 to 1883. During his time as Superior-General, he worked to strengthen the Jesuit order and expand its missionary work throughout the world. Ledóchowski was known for his strong devotion to the Virgin Mary and his commitment to promoting the Catholic faith. He also played a role in the intellectual life of his time, corresponding with notable figures such as philosopher Franz Brentano and historian Lord Acton. After his death, Ledóchowski was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1997.