Walter Golaski
Encyclopedia
Walter Golaski 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. Golaski died near Philadelphia in 1996 at the age of 83.
, Connecticut
in 1913. 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. 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.
Golaski is best known for the product he developed next, the densely knit Dacron arteries, which he sold through his company Golaski Laboratories. 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.
Golaski's business flourished after his invention, but he never forgot his ancestral heritage (he was born and raised in Connecticut but his parents immigrated to the US from Poland). He served as Chairman of the Kosciuszko Foundation
. In "which [he] encouraged the exchange of students and scholars between the United States and Poland." http://philadelphia.thekf.org/about_philadelphia.asp 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." http://philadelphia.thekf.org/about_philadelphia.asp
) to the Kosciusko Foundation. He later married Alexandra Budna Golaski with whom he had three children, Alexandra, John Paul and Edmund.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Mechanical-Bio-Medical Engineer best known for developing Dense Knit Dacron Vascular Prostheses, which were the first practical artificial blood vessel
Blood vessel
The blood vessels are the part of the circulatory system that transports blood throughout the body. There are three major types of blood vessels: the arteries, which carry the blood away from the heart; the capillaries, which enable the actual exchange of water and chemicals between the blood and...
replacements. Golaski died near Philadelphia in 1996 at the age of 83.
Early life and education
Golaski was born in TorringtonTorrington, Connecticut
Torrington is the largest city in Litchfield County, Connecticut and the northwestern Connecticut region. It is also the core city of the largest micropolitan area in the United States. The city population was 36,383 according to the 2010 census....
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
in 1913. At 16, during the Great Depression, he took a job as a needle mechanic at the Torrington Company
Torrington Company
The Torrington Company was a firm that developed in Torrington, Connecticut, emerging as a rename from the Excelsior Needle Company. It used a "cold swaging" technique to create sewing machine needles and other needles from cold metal, and was the largest employer in Torrington.James Alldis was...
, a knitting needle manufacturer, where he soon developed new ideas for the automatic needle manufacturing industry. In 1939, Torrington transferred him to Philadelphia and promoted him to manager, and he enrolled in Drexel University
Drexel University
Drexel University is a private research university with the main campus located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a noted financier and philanthropist. Drexel offers 70 full-time undergraduate programs and accelerated degrees...
's Mechanical Engineering evening school. He graduated in 1946; Drexel later honored him with many alumni awards.
Inventions
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. 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, which he sold through his company Golaski Laboratories. 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.
Golaski's business flourished after his invention, but he never forgot his ancestral heritage (he was born and raised in Connecticut but his parents immigrated to the US from Poland). He served as Chairman of the Kosciuszko Foundation
Kosciuszko Foundation
Kosciuszko Foundation is a charitable foundation based in New York City. It was created by Stephen Mizwa to fund programs that promote Polish-American intellectual and artistic exchange.-History:...
. In "which [he] encouraged the exchange of students and scholars between the United States and Poland." http://philadelphia.thekf.org/about_philadelphia.asp 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." http://philadelphia.thekf.org/about_philadelphia.asp
Personal life
Golaski had a wife named Helene Dolores Golaski who died in 1968. They had a daughter named Michelle. When Helene died, he donated a painting called Young Lady at the Fireplace (signed 1882, Wladyslaw CzachorskiWladyslaw Czachorski
Władysław Czachórski was a Polish artist.In 1866 Czachorski went to the Warsaw Drawing School and had Rafał Hadziewicz as a peer. Then he spent one year at the Dresden Academy and from there went to Munich Academy some of his classmates were: Hermann Anschütz, Karl von Piloty, and Alexander Wagner...
) to the Kosciusko Foundation. He later married Alexandra Budna Golaski with whom he had three children, Alexandra, John Paul and Edmund.