It is with great sadness that we report the death of  Polish poet and Nobel Laureate (1980)

     Czeslaw Milosz

   in the morning of August 14, 2004.

He died at home in Krakow, Poland surrounded by his loving family. He had been in ill health for the last few years and finally succumbed to the ravages of age. Born on June 30, 1911 in Sztejnia in Polish / Lithuania. Professor Milosz had lived with his wife and two sons in Berkeley, California since 1960 when he taught in the Slavic Language Department of the University of California. After the death of his first wife, he remarried and  determined  to live part of each year in Poland. In 1994  he received the Order of The White Eagle.   The author of numerous books, the reader could envision his beloved homeland, understand his perspective on life, nature and the heart. A Member of The Polish Arts and Culture Foundation for many years. He will be sorely missed for his friendship. We are thankful that his words will echo around the world for generations to come. Godspeed!

The Funeral Mass was said by Archbishop of Cracow, Franciszek Cardinal Macharski (Wojtyla's successor in that see) at 11 a.m. on Friday, 27 August, at the Cracow Basilica of St. Mary (the large church at the corner of the Market Square with the trumpeter in the tower).  He was buried in the crypt of the "Nationally Meritorious" at the Paulinist Church of SS.Michael the Archangel and Stanislaus at 1 p.m.(Skalka). This is the second most important place of honor (after Wawel Castle) in Cracow (perhaps in Poland) for the burial of "Narodowe Prominenty".  Among his 'neighbors' will be Jan Dlugosz (14th-century historian of Poland), Jozef Ignacy Kraszewski (19th-century novelist and historian of Wilno), and Stanislaw Wyspianski (modernist artist and dramatist). BV/UCB

(Photos from the Funeral can be found at www.wawel.net.pl )

2004/10/28
MAREK SKWARNICKI, "MOJ MILOSZ / MY MILOSZ"
In commemoration of Czeslaw Milosz, "Bialy Kruk" (White Crow) Publishers have prepared a new book that presents the poet as he has never before been known to readers. From these letters and conversations that encompass almost half a century emerges a Milosz so much more interesting than the one we know from more or less favorable biographical notes and discussions of his person.
www.culture.pl/en/culture/dz_skwarnicki_moj_milosz