Birth deposits most future scientists within a standard deviation or so of average, with life proceeding with its typical bumps and ruts. For a few, however, life begins as or soon transpires into a Homeric challenge. Those who emerge from such beginnings to widely contribute to humanity become mankind's cherished dignitaries—exemplars promulgating the legitimacy of hope and lending encouragement for progress. Zbigniew Kabata, bestowed with the American Society of Parasitologists Eminent Parasitologist Award in 2003 and who died at age 90 on 4 July 2014 in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada, was such a giant.
Zbigniew was born on 17 March 1924 in Jeremicze, Poland. The son of a career army officer, he graduated from primary school in 1936 and was enrolled at age 13 in the Cadet Corps secondary school at the Marshal Józef Piłsudski Military Academy in Lwów. Already interested in the sea and sailing, young Zbigniew collected pictures...