Jan Rosinski

Prof. Jan Rosinski has died in Boulder, shortly after his 95th birthday. He held doctorates in chemistry and physics from the University of Warsaw in Poland, his country of origin, and also the title of Professor in Italy. . He visited his native country, Poland, free from communism, in 2000 and 2008. During World War II he served for four years (1940-1944) in the Polish Underground Army (AK) with code name “Halszka”, against German occupation. After the collapse of the Warsaw Uprising, Jan, along with his future wife, Barbara, was transported to the POW camps in Germany (Zeithein, Northeim). They were married in the camp in Northeim, near Hannover on June 24, 1945. After the last camp was taken by the invading Soviet Red Army, Jan, with Barbara and three other friends escaped to Allied lines and joined the 2nd Corps of the Polish Army under British 8th Army Command. From there they began their long journey from Italy to England and finally to the USA. In the United States Jan began a career in applied Research at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago and then in 1962 at NCAR in Boulder, Colorado as a Program Scientist. His research focused primarily on the physics of severe storms, especially the formation of rain and hail. His many publications are deeply insightful. His science has made him a citizen of the world with colleagues in Italy, France, Germany, Canada, China, USSR, and South Africa. At the end of his career, he held an Enrico Fermi Chair in physics at the University of Bologna in Italy. Although blind by 1993, he continued to publish papers and correspond with colleagues for the next 10 years. He died peacefully at his Boulder home in which, with help, he was able to live out his last years. Jan was a good, kind, and generous man who regarded life as an adventure. His spirit was infections. He will be missed.
A recitation of the Rosary will be Saturday, March 3 at 11:30 AM at Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church. A funeral Mass will follow the Rosary beginning at 12:00 noon.