DR. THADDEUS RADZILOWSKI
PASSED AWAY
1938 - 2018

Dr. Thaddeus C. Radzilowski (80) passed away on July 20, 2018. He was born on Feb. 4, 1938 in Detroit, MI.

Dr. Radzilowski was a highly accomplished historian and academic studying Poland and Central and Eastern Europe, author of countless manuscripts on these topics. Over the course of his rich academic career, he taught at the University of Michigan, Madonna University, Heidelberg College, and Southwest Minnesota State University. He also served as the President of St. Mary College.

In 2003, Dr. Radzilowski co-founded the Piast Institute with Virginia Skrzyniarz. As President of Piast, Dr. Radzilowski focused the organization as a major research center, one of U.S. Census Information Centers, and as a representative of Poland and Polish-Americans in the United States, with worldwide network of accomplished fellows. Under his leadership, the Institute produced position papers, school curricula, research reports, conducted surveys, organized conferences and exhibits, and was very involved in the life of American Polonia. He also cultivated many relationships with Polish universities and institutions.

He was a corresponding member of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN); served as an advisor and consultant to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and the U.S. Bureau of the Census; was a member of the Ford Foundation Commission on Ethnicity on American Life, National Polish Apostolate Committee, Polish American Congress (MI Director), Saint Mary’s College, Orchard Lake (President Emeritus), The Polish Review (Editorial Board), University of Michigan (Professor), and was a past President of the Upper Midwest Ethnic Studies Association. Mr. Radzilowski was also a member of PRCUA Soc. #798. His son, John Radzilowski, is the author of the The Eagle & The Cross: A History of the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America.

Dr. Radzilowski received many awards for his academic work, community involvement, and leadership. In 1999, the President of Poland presented Dr. Radzilowski with the Cavaliers Cross of the Polish Order of Merit for distinguished contributions to the dissemination of Polish culture in the world.

Dr. Radzilowski was a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, who served his country in Vietnam. He is survived by his wife, Kathleen, three sons, John, Paul and Stefan, grandchildren Radek and Diana, sisters Fran and Cynthia, and brothers, Norbert and Fred.

A Funeral Mass was celebrated on Wednesday July 25th at St. Gerald Catholic Church in Farmington, MI, followed by an interment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield, MI.