Barbara Zakrzewska Borowiecki, professor emerita in the department of Geography, died in March in Springfield, Illinois, at age 91. She was born in Warsaw, Poland. She began teaching in the department at UW-Milwaukee in 1960, became chair of the department in 1971, and retired from UWM in 1992.
Borowiecki was instrumental in UWM’s acquisition and transfer of the American Geographic Society Map Collection to the Golda Meir Library. She was a believer in Polish studies and was an important force in the development of Polish, Russia and East European Studies at UWM. She was also a dedicated promoter and initiator of the Polanki college scholarship program.
After arriving in the United States, Borowiecki learned English and enrolled at George Washington University. She later moved to Indiana and received both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Indiana University.
A private burial took place at St. Adalbert Cemetery in Milwaukee. Memorial contributions may be made to The American Geographical Society.
