The Bond of Friendship

Wayne State Chemistry Alumnus Jerry Zakrzewski

Ted Hromada and Jerry Zakrzewski have a lot in common: they both grew up in Detroit, attended the same elementary school and high school, earned degrees from Wayne State University, and became professional chemists.

Hromada and Zakrzewski's friendship started when they were young. By the time they started high school, they shared a special friendship. Their future career plans, however, were uncertain. The years at De LaSalle High School were significant for both men, but especially for Zakrzewski.

"I started to take chemistry classes and enjoyed them very much," Zakrzewski said. He enjoyed chemistry so much, that he purchased an advanced chemistry book to study the following summer. Following high school, Zakrzewski decided to study chemistry at Wayne State University.

Hromada graduated from high school the same year as Zakrzewski, but tarried in limbo a bit longer when deciding what direction to take from there. "I wasn't sure what I was going to study," he recalled. "The only thing I was good at was math." His uncertainty led him to attend Highland Park Junior College for the next two years. There, while taking a freshmen chemistry course, Ted found his passion.

When Zakrzewski learned that Hromada wanted to study chemistry, he advised him to come to WSU. Hromada took the advice and transferred. The two school pals found themselves back in class again.

Zakrzewski completed his degree at WSU and moved to Seattle. He attended the University of Washington where he received his Ph.D. in chemistry. Zakrzewski, after graduating from University of Washington, went on to work for DuPont Central Research Laboratories as a polymer chemist. He stayed in this position for five years before moving to TRW Inc., where he worked as a polymer chemist for NASA on satellite applications and Air Force High Performance Airplane applications. Contributing to human's exploration in space, working on satellites continued to be Zakrzewski's area of expertise. His next move was to Ford Aerospace, where he worked on NASA and communication satellites. This opportunity gave Zakrzewski the chance to work on developing and building a reflector for the Voyager spacecraft. After 13 years, Zakrzewski moved to Lockheed Martin, where he stayed for 32 years. In this position, he worked on NASA satellites military communication satellites, new satellite proposals and the Hubble Space Telescope.

Chemistry Alumnus Ted Hromada

Hromada stayed in Michigan after graduating from Wayne State, and worked for Uniroyal Tire as a polymer chemist. He stayed with Uniroyal for nearly 10 years before moving on to the Detroit Water Department's Wastewater Treatment Division. At the DWD, Ted played a more earth-like role analyzing and implementing environmental water safeguards for Detroit's public safety. He started out in the analytical lab as a junior chemist but was eventually promoted to senior chemist. He worked in a process engineering group that was responsible for cleaning up the waste water to make it dischargeable into the Detroit River. He worked there for 32 years. Working in treatment and being affiliated with the Water Environment Federation gave him the opportunity to present research papers at several WEF conferences.

Zakrzewski's move to Seattle started a 20 year hiatus in his friendship with Hromada. But, a Water Environment Federation conference was a catalyst for their reunion. At that conference, the friends met and were affected by the 7.8 Loma Prieta, CA earthquake that devastated the San Francisco and Silicon Valley area. In wake of that event, the two discovered that despite decades of distance, their friendship was still there. The two men still live in different parts of the country, but travel the world and remain great friends.

Hromada and Zakrzewski have both retired, but they continue to be active in chemistry and their communities. Hromada is a chemistry tutor at Wayne State, and Zakrzewski is involved in community affairs and chemistry societies.

Hromada and Zakrzewski - like students today - had no idea what twists and turns were ahead of them when they were attending classes at Wayne State. Yet, they both agree it was those shared experiences of education and friendship that made it all possible, and both men believe that Wayne State prepared them well for their careers as chemists.

By Danielle Underwood, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Development Writer