Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (13.2001(2002))

OBITUARY

It is no exaggeration to say that the restoration of the Upper Courtyard and the reconstruction of
the monumental Osiriac statues of Queen Hatshepsut are largely thanks to his contribution.
Passing through Cairo on his way to Luxor, he always managed to find the time to help out with
the equipment at the seat of the Polish Center of Archaeology. The air conditioners, thermal water
heaters and electrical installation are all his work, done voluntarily, in his free time, of which he
never had too much, always called back urgently to his duties as Chief Electrical Officer at Warsaw
U niversity.
Perhaps the most important thing, hoivever, was Krzysztofs honesty, friendliness and constant
readiness to be of help to whomever needed it, whether friend, colleague, acquaintance or total
stranger.
Language and cultural barriers were never a problem in the face of this simple, commonplace
human cordiality. That is why wherever Krzysztof went, he engendered the sympathy and friendship
of colleagues at work, local workers, inspectors and guards from the Antiquities Department. Last
but not least, of the inhabitants of Gurna village in Luxor, who waited impatiently for his every
arrival. Looking at the crowds paying their last respects to Krzysztof in Warsaw, I feel certain that
those who would have come to say their last farewell in far-off Gurna would have been just as numer-
ous.
Franciszek Pawlicki

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