MAREK DEBICKI

Condolences & Memories (5 entries)

• Marek was a great professor. Never judging always encouraging and supportive. He gave me much enthusiasm to study and his small seminars in Canadian Political Process were a joy. I always looked forward to attending his classes. Saddened to learn of his passing just now David St Albert, Alberta - Posted by: David Hook (Former Masters Student 1984 ) on: Apr 20, 2021

• Prof. Debicki taught me international human rights law in 2003-2004. I remember his lectures fondly, most of all his examples that made theory come to life. I remember in particular his story about a dispute between neighbours, caused by one neighbour letting dandelions grow on his lawn, which the other did not like. Sixteen years later, I still use that story in various contexts, as an example of people focusing on small, irrelevant differences instead of on the humanity we all share. I was saddened to hear of his passing but have no doubt he left behind generations of humanists to carry on his torch. - Posted by: Maja (Former student) on: Apr 22, 2020

• I bumped into this by accident today. It is a testament to my father's legacy that even three years after his death, one of his colleagues made a post here. Of my lasting memories of my father were times spent being proudly shown off in the university college common room as well as in KSAP in Warsaw. Thank you Jesse and Kasia both for posting here and jogging those memories! - Posted by: Matthew Debicki (Son) on: Oct 24, 2019

• It is almost three years since my friend and colleague Marek Debicki left this world. We were both longtime members of University College at the University of Manitoba. The College's academic occupants represented (and still do) a wide variety of disciplines. Marek was a political scientist; I am a mathematical economist, turned economic historian. Hardly anyone has challenged me better in matters of scholarly pursuit than Marek could and, indeed, did. I miss his presence in the Senior Common (staff) Room. And I wish I could feel again the tightening squeeze he inflicted on my body, demonstrating his warm compassion for people in general and (according to my experience) colleagues in particular. May he rest in peace. - Posted by: Jesse Vorst (colleague and fellow member of University College) on: Jan 19, 2014

• We will miss Marek. In addition to Winnipeg our paths crossed often in Warsaw. He helped us mount seminars at the National School of Public Administration, where he was a frequent visiting professor and evidently well respected by alumni: his name drew participants from the Rada Ministrów. He recommended Café Blikle on Nowy Swiat, whose washrooms he pronounced the cleanest and most brightly lit of any from behind the iron curtain. He showed us the only butcher shop in Poland that understood American cuts of steak: porterhouse, striploin, rib-eye. And he brought his son over for tea. Nasze uszanowanie. - Posted by: Kasia Purdy (Friend) on: Mar 15, 2011