Walter Golaski
Walter Golaski | |
|---|---|
 A Pennsylvania state historical marker for Golaski in Philadelphia, located on Lancaster Walk on Drexel University's campus | |
| Born | Walter Michael Golaszewski 12 August 1913 Torrington, Connecticut, United States |
| Died | 22 September 1996 (aged 83) |
| Education | Drexel University (1946) |
| Occupation | Medical engineer |
| Known for | Dense Knit Dacron Vascular Prostheses |
| Spouse | Helene Dolores Ambrose (1942–1968) Alexandra Budna |
| Children | 4 |
Walter Michael Golaski (12 August 1913 – 22 September 1996) was an American Mechanical-Bio-Medical Engineer best known for developing Dense Knit Dacron Vascular Prostheses, which were the first practical artificial blood vessel replacements.[1] Golaski died near Philadelphia in 1996 at the age of 83.
Early life and education
[edit]Golaski was born in Torrington, Connecticut in 1913 to Paul (né Golaszewski) and Helena[2] (née Kulesza). His parents emigrated to the United States in 1906 from "Golasie", a village in Poland. He had 5 siblings: Stephina, Tessie, Edmond, Edward, and Julius.[3] At 16, during the Great Depression, he took a job as a needle mechanic at the Torrington Company, a knitting needle manufacturer, where he soon developed new ideas for the automatic needle manufacturing industry.[4][5] In 1939, Torrington transferred him to Philadelphia and promoted him to manager, and he enrolled in Drexel University's Mechanical Engineering evening school. He graduated in 1946; Drexel later honored him with many alumni awards.
Inventions
[edit]In 1940, Golaski developed a process for rebuilding hosiery machines to enable the knitting industry to make the switch from silk to nylon. In 1945 he opened the Bearing Products Company and with the profits later in 1956 bought and reorganized the Overbrook Knitting Corporation in order to convert existing machinery to produce full fashioned knitted sweaters.[6] He was granted 10 American, 1 British and 2 Canadian patents.
Golaski is best known for the product he developed next, the densely knit Dacron arteries,[7] which he sold through his company Golaski Laboratories.[8] Until this invention, the available replacement blood vessels were stiff, woven, and not sufficiently porous. The Golaski graft offered patients longer life expectancy than any other on the market.[6]
Golaski's business flourished after his invention. He served as Chairman of the Kosciuszko Foundation,[9] in "which [he] encouraged the exchange of students and scholars between the United States and Poland." [1][dead link] He helped show Poland in a positive light to America in that "Americans of all ethnic backgrounds were encouraged to participate in the Foundation's programs and experience Polish culture directly." [2][dead link]
Personal life
[edit]In 1942, Golaski married Helene Dolores Ambrose,[10] (1915-1968). They had a daughter, Michelle Starr Helen.[11] In her memory, he donated a painting, Young Lady at the Fireplace (Wladyslaw Czachorski, 1882) to the Kosciusko Foundation.[12] He later married Alexandra Budna Golaski[13] with whom he had three children, Alexandra, Johnpaul, and Edmund. His son, Johnpaul is a freelance sound mixer for the film industry.[14]
Legacy
[edit]On May 17th, 2014,[15] a historical marker was erected on Lancaster Walk in honor of Golaski, commemorating his achievement in medical engineering,[7]
References
[edit]- ^ Sawyer, Philip N.; Kaplitt, Martin J. (1978). Vascular Grafts. Appleton-Century-Crofts. p. 226. ISBN 978-0-8385-9366-0.
- ^ National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For Pennsylvania, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 911
- ^ National Archives at Boston; Waltham, Massachusetts; ARC Title: Index to Naturalization Records, 8/1803-11/1972; NAI Number: 3249877; Record Group Title: Records of District Courts of the United States, 1685-2009; Record Group Number: Rg 21
- ^ "Great Men and Women of Polish Descent". www.trentonpolisharts.org. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
- ^ Wire Journal. Vol. 6. Wire Journal, Incorporated. 1973. p. 112.
- ^ a b "The Abandoned Golaski Laboratory Building". www.abandonedamerica.us. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
- ^ a b "Walter Golaski Historical Marker". www.hmdb.org. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
- ^ Wojdon, Joanna (June 3, 2024). Polish American History after 1939: Polish American History from 1854 to 2004, Volume 2. Taylor & Francis. pp. 274–275. ISBN 978-1-040-03105-6.
- ^ Jim, Fr (May 12, 2014). "Honoring Dr. Walter Golaski in Philadelphia | (Was a) Deacon's Blog". konicki.com. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
- ^ "Helen Ambrose Wed September 5". Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, the Evening News. September 10, 1942. p. 10. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
- ^ "Mrs. Helene Golaski". Shamokin News-Dispatch. August 21, 1968. p. 2. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
- ^ Foundation, Kosciuszko (1995). Polish Masters from the Kosciuszko Foundation Collection. The Foundation. p. 29. ISBN 978-0-917004-24-7.
- ^ Who's who in Finance and Industry. Marquis Who's Who. 1991. p. 316. ISBN 978-0-8379-0327-9.
- ^ "Johnpaul Golaski". IMDb.
- ^ "Historical Marker Dedicated To Walter Golaski". Post Eagle Newspaper. Retrieved January 23, 2025.