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May 17, 2012

Obituary: Thad P. Zaleskiewicz

ZaleskiewiczThad P. Zaleskiewicz, professor emeritus of physics at Pitt-Greensburg, died April 23, 2012. He was 73.

Zaleskiewicz earned a BS in physics from Union College in his native city of Schenectady, N.Y., in 1961, followed by an MA in physics from Dartmouth College in 1963, an MAT in physics/education from Brown University in 1966 and a PhD in physics from Pitt in 1974.

Known affectionately as Dr. Z by students and as Ted by colleagues and friends, Zaleskiewicz came to UPG in 1964, a year after Pitt-Greensburg opened, as the campus’s first physics faculty member.

He retired in 2006 with emeritus status, but continued to administer continuing education programs and pedagogy workshops at Pitt-Greensburg. (See University Times Feb. 16, 2006.)

Early in his career, Zaleskiewicz participated in an NSF-funded program at the Learning Research and Development Center that was developing courses on how to teach high school-level sciences, a subject that became the basis of his doctoral dissertation.

During his nearly 50 years as an educator, Zaleskiewicz was known for building teams of like-minded scientists and educators, bringing to fruition projects that made science more accessible to both students and their instructors.

He served as science liaison for UPG’s education degree program and coordinated the summer science math experience for junior high students.

In 2009, Zaleskiewicz founded the Summer Science and Math Experience, a six-day program that brings middle school students from western Pennsylvania to the Greensburg campus for an inquiry-based experience with a concentration on biology, physical science, chemistry, computer science and math.

Prior to receiving emeritus status in 2006, he taught Physics for Students of Science and Engineering, Modern Physics, Introduction to Physics Laboratory, Science and Pseudo-Science and Natural Science.

The recipient of a 2011 Carnegie Science Award in the category of University/Post-Secondary Educator, Zaleskiewicz remained productive as a consultant in matters involving physics education, serving for 12 years as the elected president of the Contemporary Physics Education Project.

He also received a Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award in 1990 and Pitt-Greensburg’s President’s Medal for Distinguished Service in 2009.

Zaleskiewicz was elected as a fellow of the American Physical Society in 2007. He was a member of the American Association of Physics Teachers, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and Sigma Xi.

Zaleskiewicz is survived by two daughters, Catherine Boccabella and M. Susan Scott; twin sons, Erik J. Zaleskiewicz and Mark S. Zaleskiewicz, and five grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the National Sciences Scholarship Fund at Pitt-Greensburg, c/o Institutional Advancement, 724/836-9942.

—Peter Hart


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