Biographical dictionary of our graduates
Work is currently underway on a biographical dictionary of GMU graduates. The publication will be made up of several volumes with graduates appearing in alphabetical order. The first volume, which features Tczew Maritime School graduates from the years 1922-1930, is planned for release in time for the University’s 101st anniversary.
Sadly, the volume will not contain all students that graduated from the Tczew School as the fate of some of them remains unknown and their biographies incomplete. There were approximately 200 graduates in total. The exact number of those that graduated in Tczew is difficult to confirm as some of them went on to pass their exams in Gdynia a few years after attending classes in Tczew. In accordance with the date of award of their degree certificates, these students are counted as graduates of the Gdynia State Maritime School and shall be included in the next volume of the dictionary.
We currently have more than 150 completed biographies. The names of those graduates about which we know very little or nothing at all can be found in a table here. As it’s rather unlikely for someone to disappear without leaving a trace, we are appealing for any information the public might be able to provide on our graduates (contact: m.sokolowska [at] au.umg.edu.pl or j.stasiak [at] au.umg.edu.pl).
We are also looking for more detailed information on Tadeusz Wągrowski. His biography so far makes for an extremely interesting read:
After graduating from the Maritime School in Tczew, he served as an unpaid apprentice on board a Danish ship the Lithuania transporting the poor of Europe to America. He was given a cabin on the bow on the lowest deck - the worst possible part of the ship.
In New York, with a group of colleagues, he deserted. From letters home, we know that in February 1924 he was working in a machine shop, and in 1926 a garage. He went on to be one of only a few immigrants to realise the dream of making a fortune in the promised land.
Nevertheless, his affection for his homeland and his Alma Mater remained. In 1964 the Mazovian Tribune wrote: Our fellow countryman, Engineer Tadeusz Wągrowski from the USA, wrote in response to an appeal from Engineer Ostrowski – an activist of the Polish community in Argentina: “Operation Crocodile for Płock Zoo shall leave New York for Florida where it shall purchase an alligator for the zoo in Płock”. On the journey to Florida, Wągrowski’s wife Władysława decided that a single alligator will be sad by itself. Soon two fine alligators named Marta and Pedro were onboard the m/s General Bem and on their way to Płock in Poland. It goes against tradition to reveal the price paid for a gift, but on this occasion, we’ll make an exception. The engineer paid 1000 USD for the pair. In the summer of 1970, Marta played the role of the crocodile Herman in Andrzej Kondratiuk’s cult film Hydrozagadka (Hydro-mystery). Today Marta is the oldest alligator in Polish zoos, and one of the oldest in the world.
Two years later, the topic was once again mentioned in the press under the headline: “A Graduate’s Royal Gift”. The Polish Ocean Lines ship s/s Śniadecki has arrived in the port of Gdynia. Dockworkers unloaded a magnificent Lincoln-Continental motor car from the deck. The limousine is one of only 28 Lincoln-Continentals in the world, made only to special order. The car is a special gift from American citizen of Polish origin Tadeusz Wągrowski for the Gdynia State Maritime School. […] Before visiting family on his return to the country he decided to express his gratitude to the school that gave him his occupation”.
The car was driven by School director Jurewicz, much to the envy of the entire city of Gdynia.
Embedded in the walls of the House of Poland in Florida is a plaque that commemorates its founders, including Tadeusz Wągrowski who donated 20 thousand dollars for the building’s construction.
Should you have any further information about Tadeusz Wągrowski or know what happened to the Lincoln Continental, please get in touch: m.sokolowska [at] au.umg.edu.pl or j.stasiak [at] au.umg.edu.pl.