It is with great regret that we announce that on June 11^th, 2025, at the age of 73, the late Dr Eng.  Franciszek Gramatyka, doc. SUT passed away. He was a long-time employee of the Boiler and Steam Generators team of the Department of Power Engineering and Turbomachinery of the Silesian University of Technology.

The Holy Mass will be celebrated on June 14, 2025, at 13:00 in the Church of Holly Jadwiga in Gliwice-Brzezinka. The last farewell will take place immediately after the Holy Mass at the parish cemetery in Gliwice-Brzezinka.

Franciszek Gramatyka was born on 11 May 1952 in Sarzyna. After graduating from the Secondary Comprehensive School in Nowa Sarzyna in 1971, he obtained a certificate of maturity and began studies at the Faculty of Mechanical and Power Engineering of the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice, which he graduated from in 1976 with a very good result and obtained a master’s degree in mechanical engineering with a specialization in Power Machines and Devices in the diploma field: Steam Boilers and Power Systems. During his studies he worked in the ZSP Association of Polish Students.

Franciszek Gramatyka worked at the Silesian University of Technology - from an assistant trainee (1976), through an assistant, senior scientific and didactic assistant, scientific and didactic assistant to an assistant professor (from 2008), initially in an independent Boiler and Steam Generator Team, then in the Institute of Boilers and Nuclear Power Plants, from 1983 in the Department of Boilers and Steam Generators of the Department of Power Engineering and Turbomachinery. In the years 1978-1980 he was a co-founder and secretary of the University Council of Young Science Workers. He was a graduate (1977) of the Poznań SORbonne - the Reserve Officers School at the Armoured Forces Academy in Poznań; then, until 1986, a lecturer at the Non_Commissioned Officers’ School and mobilized commander of the reserve company in the tank regiment in Gliwice (JW2719).

He obtained the PhD degree in technical sciences in the discipline of construction and operation of machines after public defence of his doctoral thesis “Analysis of the fuel overhead process and methodology of the selection of the grate boilers overhead system”.

In addition, in the years 1981-1986 he worked as a designer (1/2 full-time) in the Thermal Research and Measurement Laboratory of the Research and Design Unit "Energochem" in Gliwice, dealing with the modernization of boilers in the Ministry of Chemical and Light Industry.

In the years 1990-1995 he was the Deputy Director in the POLKO cooperation in Mikołów, implementing installations of high pressure pneumatic transport of fly ash from electro filters in power plants and CHP plants.
In the following years (1995-2002), he cooperated in the approval (UDT) for the production of heating boilers at the RADAN Gliwice Boiler Production Plant, acting as the head of quality control and supervision acceptance of boilers at the manufacturer.

Franciszek Gramatyka took an active part in the scientific activity of the Boiler Institute of the Department of Power Engineering and Turbomachinery , which resulted in over 30 publications in journals and conference materials of nearly 100 scientific and research works carried out for industrial institutions.

He was a co-creator of 10 patents, 7 patent applications, utility model and invention design applied in industry. He participated in the implementation of several scientific and research works financed from central funds. He participated in the preparation and organization of several conferences (including international ones) and scientific seminars. He was the author of reviews of applications to KBN and co-author of many project evaluations and technical expertise for industry, as well as the winner of the second prize of the “My idea for Business” Competition.

As part of his didactic work, he developed and conducted lectures, workshops and specialist and diploma seminars in the following fields: Mechanical Engineering and Machine Technology, Power Engineering, Environmental Engineering and Safety Engineering, both in full-time and part-time (extramural) studies. From 2003 to 2019 he served as Secretary of the Diploma Exams Commission.

He was the promoter of over 227 diploma theses, including: 173 master's degree, 54 engineering and 9 final post-graduate studies work and a reviewer of several dozen master's and engineering diploma theses.

He actively participated in the implementation of the didactic process, conducting observing of doctoral students’ classes, as well as the creator and long-term supervisor of the Student Science Club of Boilers and Thermal Equipment, helping students in establishing contacts in the industry for internships or future work. In the years 1992-1995 he conducted classes at the Centre for Course Training in Bielsko-Biala for operators of grate, overhead and fluidized boilers.

In 2013-2015, in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce for Energy and Environmental Protection in Warsaw, he co-organized 4 editions of the "Energy - the basics of knowledge" course, where he lectured and acted as the head of KD He gave lectures at the Postgraduate Study “Environmental protection techniques against EU directives” (2008/2009) “Boiler, environmental protection and other energy equipment technologies” (2009-2010) and was the head of the Postgraduate Study “Energy technologies and design” (2015-2016) organized in cooperation with the Faculty of Organization and Management of the Silesian University of Technology  for employees Rafako S.A. in Racibórz.

It is particularly noteworthy that his teaching activity was highly evaluated in annual surveys filled out anonymously by students with whom he conducted classes.

Since the beginning of his activity, Franciszek Gramatyka actively participated in organizational works within the University, Faculty and Institute, where he held a number of functions in collegial bodies and standing or ad hoc committees, such as:

• Co-founder and then secretary of the University Council of Young Science Workers at the Silesian University of Technology in 1978-1980.
• Care and maintenance of the scientific library of the Boiler and Steam Generator Department since 1979.
• Technical Secretary of the Committee on the Selection of Candidates for the first year of studies at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.
• V-CE Chairman of the Regional Electoral Commission in Gliwice, on behalf of NSZZ “Solidarność” in the historic elections on 4 June 1989
• Representative of the group of auxiliary scientific and teaching staff in the Council of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering - term of office 1990-1993.
• Guardian of the Student House “Piast” on behalf of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering 1994-1999 and the Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering (2005-2017).
• Participation in the work of the examination Team during the qualification for the first year of studies of the Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering, and in the following years participation in the work during the entrance examinations and a representative of the Faculty in the matriculation examination committees.
• Deputy Dean of the Faculty for Technology Transfer in the Research and Technology Transfer Department at the Rector for Science and Industry Cooperation in the years 1997-2002.
• Member of the University Electoral College in terms of 2002-2005, 2005-2008, 2008-2012, 2012-2016 and 2016-2019.
• Member of the Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering Council from the group of assistant professors in the term of office 2002-2005.
• Chairman and Secretary of the Diploma Exams Commission - full-time, evening, and part-time studies.
• Secretary of the Faculty Commission for the reception of works of BK and BW appointed by the Vice-Rector for Science and Cooperation with Industry in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
• Coordinator for didactic loads in ZKiWP and IMiUE from 2009 to 2017
• Member of the Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering Council from the group of other academic teachers in the terms of office 2005-2008, 2008-2012, 2012-2016 and 2016-2019.
• Member of the Senate of the Silesian University of Technology in terms of 2008-2012, 2012-2016 and 2016-2019.
• Member of the ad hoc Senate Committee on Study Programs - 2015.
• Member of the Senate Committee on Budget and Finance 2016-2019.
• Secretary of the Board of the Branch of the Association of students of the Silesian University of Technology, Faculty of Mechanical and Power Engineering and Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering since 2013.

In recognition of his achievements, he was repeatedly awarded the Rector of the Silesian University of Technology Award for didactic activity and also for organizational activity. He has received numerous awards and distinctions, including: Silver Badge of the SZSP, badge of "Merit for the Silesian University of Technology" for special merits for the development of the University, badge of "Merit for Technical Supervision" for many years of cooperation with UDT.
In addition, he was awarded the Gold Cross of Merit by the decision of the President of the Republic of Poland in 2011 and the Medal of the National Education Commission in 2012, for special merits for education and education by the Minister of National Education. In 2018 he received an honorary distinction of the Association of students of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the Silesian University of Technology -  Medal named after Stanisław Ochęduszko.

On the grounds of the 7th Edict of the Scientific and Program Council of the Boiler Conference and the Chapter in 2022 he was granted the title of Honorary Miles Energeticae. He received a document testifying to the right to the title and sabre and as an insignia of the title - Polish Carabella.

He was married to Ewa de domo Zaborowska (graduate of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering '77, who died in 2009), both in a relationship for 34 years. Three children - Paweł, Małgosia and Jan. His greatest joy was his three granddaughters: Hania, Ola, and Basia and four grandchildren: Antos, Stas, Rysiu and Zbyszek. His answer to the question of his most important achievement was: THE FAMILY.

It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our colleague, who will forever remain in our memory as a very cordial, friendly, and kind person. He was always ready to help, share his experience and support others in difficult times.
His smile, serenity and unquenchable joy of life were a source of positive energy for the whole team. He was able to establish a relationship with everyone, and his stories and memories added colour and warmth to everyday life.

He will remain in our hearts as a good man, full of passion and respect for others. Thank you for the time we spent together.

Friends and Colleagues from the Silesian University of Technology,
Board of the Association of students of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering.