On March 12, 2016, Sylwia Czajkowska passed away at the age of 60. She was a modest, upright person who was deeply sensitive to human concerns.

She joined our team—the team at what was then the Coal Chemistry Department—in 1975, after graduating from the Faculty of Chemistry at the Silesian University of Technology.

Sylwia Czajkowska dedicated her career to coal research. She collaborated with distinguished scholars. The impact of her work is evident in nearly all—including the most outstanding—scientific achievements concerning the structure of this mineral. She is the co-author of many excellent publications and numerous significant reports in this field.

Sylwia Czajkowska is known among us as an exceptionally competent, diligent, and responsible colleague. She was characterized by a sense of modesty typical of outstanding individuals. Those of us who were fortunate enough to work directly with her hold that collaboration in very high regard and consider Sylwia Czajkowska’s contribution an indispensable element and prerequisite for conducting research.

Sylwia remains in our memory as a good colleague and a devoted friend. She was a calm, kind, and approachable person. In her work environment, she was able to create an atmosphere of warmth and mutual understanding, while at the same time maintaining a high level of professional commitment.

She devoted a great deal of time to our younger colleagues, to whom she not only passed on her experience and scientific knowledge but also instilled the values they should uphold in their professional work and personal lives. She never refused to offer advice or help to anyone.

We enjoyed working with her and were very fond of her.

As scholars and as colleagues, we have suffered a great loss. She will remain in our memories forever.