It is with great regret and sadness that we announce that on August 19th, 2024, after a long and severe illness, Dr Eng. Ryszard Kliszczewicz died at the age of eighty.

Dr Eng. Ryszard Kliszczewicz connected his entire professional life with the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the Silesian University of Technology. He was born on 5th November 1943 in Lviv. After graduating from secondary school in Będzin, he started studies at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture (now the Faculty of Civil Engineering). Initially, he worked as an assistant and after defending his doctorate (1977) as an assistant professor in the Department of Building Structures.

The main fields of his scientific activity were related to construction and engineering structures, concrete and compressed structures, and civil engineering in mining areas.
As part of his scientific activity, he published thirty-six papers in industry journals and conference materials. He was the author of two academic textbooks ("Concrete Structures. Calculation of reinforced concrete elements in load limit states according to PN-B-03264:2002”, Ed. Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, 2003; „Calculation of reinforced concrete elements in the states of load capacity and use according to PN-B-03264:2002”, Ed. Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, 2008) and co-author of three books ("Principles of designing reinforced concrete structures based on PN-B-03264:1999", Ed. Arkady, Warsaw, 2001; “Fundamentals of designing reinforced concrete and compressed structures according to Eurocode 2”, Lower Silesian Educational Publishing House, Wrocław, 2006; “Reinforced Concrete Structures. Album of Drawings,” Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN SA, Warsaw, 2009). He was also the author of numerous expert opinions and technical studies and co-author of two patents.

Dr Eng. Ryszard Kliszczewicz was very strongly involved in didactic and organizational matters of the Faculty of Civil Engineering at his University. In the years 1996-2002 he was the Vice-Dean for Student Affairs of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, was a member of the Senate of the Silesian University of Technology (1990-2008), a member of the Senate Committee for Didactic matters (1996-2008), a member of the University Disciplinary Committee for Academic Teachers (2008-2008) and a member of the Disciplinary Committee for Doctoral students (2005-2005). He attached great importance to the high level of didactic offer of the Faculty of Civil Engineering. He worked with the Dean of that time, prof S. Majewski, in the preparation of modern programs of two-degree studies, semester professional internships and studies in English.

Working in NSZZ Solidarność, he was also involved in the processes of transformation in the eighties of the last century. He was a member of the Polish Association of Civil Engineers and Technicians (since 1967) and the Commission of Urban Planning and Architecture of the Polish Academy of Sciences Branch in Katowice (since 1990).

For his professional, didactic, and organizational activity, he was awarded and awarded many times. We can mention here: Silver Badge of Honour of PZITB (1979), Silver Badge of Merit in the Development of the Katowice Voivodeship (1981), Gold Badge of Honour of PZITB (1984), Gold Cross of Merit (1987), Silver Badge of Honour of NOT (1989), Medal of the 50th Anniversary of the Silesian University of Technology (1995), Medal of SOLIDARITY for bravery and determination in defending the rights of working people in our Homeland (1997), Badge of Merit for the Silesian University of Technology (1998), Bronze Medal of the Silesia-Dąbrowa Region of NZSS "Solidarność" (2000), Medal of the 50th Anniversary of the Gliwice Branch of PZITB (2003), Medal of the National Education Commission (2003), Medal of the 60th Anniversary of the Silesian University of Technology (2005) and Gold Medal for Long Service (2009).

In our memory, he will remain kind, cordial and supportive not only of his family, but also of colleagues and friends.

May he rest in peace, always in our grateful memory.