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The University of New Mexico

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Contact: Carolyn Gonzales 277-5920
cgonzal@unm.edu

Sept. 24, 2007

UNM Math Professor Dies After July Fall

Krzysztof “Kris” Galicki, professor, Mathematics and Statistics, died today, Monday, Sept. 24, announced Alejandro Aceves, chair of the department. Galicki was an avid hiker who had a terrible accident in the Alps on July 8 and never recovered. He was brought to Albuquerque in August and died at a Presbyterian Hospice. He was 49 years old. He is survived by his wife Rowan Wymark and family in Poland.

“Kris was a full professor and member of this department since 1989. Our hearts and thoughts are with Rowan and with Kris’ family,” Aceves said.

Wymark said that arrangements are being made with French Mortuary and that a memorial service is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 10 at the UNM Alumni Chapel.

“Kris came to the United States in 1984 and to UNM in 1989. He was fabulous as a husband and friend. He was funny, sweet, kind and energetic,” Wymark said.

She added that a lot of Galicki’s work was in Europe, but he always promoted UNM. “He spread the UNM community around Europe,” she said.

Charles Boyer, professor, Mathematics and Statistics, said that he and Galicki shared a collaboration dating back to Galicki’s arrival on campus.

“We had a great working relationship. We enjoyed working together. At 49, he was still growing as a mathematician,” Boyer said. They have a book in its final stages, to be published by Oxford University Press.

Titled, “Sasakian Geometry,” the book addresses differential geometry, a way of measuring things.

“We give and prove examples that satisfy Einstein equations that he used in his general theory of relativity. Called ‘Sasaki Einstein Metrics,’ they are types of metrics, or ways to measure that have been used in particle physics and cosmology. They create models on how the universe works,” Boyer said. He said that this type of geometry is used by physicists.

Boyer said that he and Galicki were scheduled to deliver a session at the American Mathematical Society conference, to be held here Oct. 13-14. Galicki helped organize the conference. “I will deliver a tribute to him before the session,” Boyer said.

Aceves added, “While he left us much too early, it is what you do while you live, not so much the number of years you live that matters. Many of us will agree he left a mark and lived to the fullest, in particular when we think about two passions he had: mathematics and hiking. Kris epitomized the highest level of professionalism as a researcher and as a teacher.”

Aceves said that he and Galicki had disagreements. “We both expressed them with passion, and in the end we agreed that there was respect to each other and an understanding we were both trying to figure out what was best for the department.

I say this because in my opinion, the best way to honor Kris is for all of us to be professional, be critical and be respectful.”

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