Alina Liniecki
Sept. 21, 1931-Dec. 31, 2025
San Carlos, California

Alina Maria Liniecki, née Skupin, age 94, died on December 31, 2025, leaving behind a life defined by determination, intellect, elegance, and an unwavering devotion to family and work. Alina was born in Gniezno, Poland, to Pelagia and Jan Skupin and grew up in Pozna? with her younger brother, Janusz. Her childhood unfolded amid the hardship and fear of World War II, during the German occupation of Poland. From an early age, Alina was a serious and driven student, shaped by both necessity and ambition. She earned her degree in dentistry in 1954 at the Medical Academy in Pozna?. While on holiday in Sopot, on Poland’s Baltic coast, she met Alexander (Alex) George Liniecki, whom she married in 1955. Together they settled in ?ód?, Poland, where they began their family. Alina and Alex had two daughters, Margaret and Katherine. In 1964, amid the gray scarcity and political constraints of communist Poland, Alina’s initiative and courage changed the course of her family’s life. After overhearing a casual remark in a Warsaw café about teaching contracts in Ghana, Africa, she pursued the opportunity with resolve. That single act of curiosity and determination led her family to relocate to West Africa, where Alex taught mechanical engineering at the university in Kumasi. In Ghana, Alina flourished. She was a gracious and generous hostess, renowned for the warmth of her gatherings and the abundance of food. Faculty families from around the world met in their home, drawn by Alina’s belief that hospitality was measured not by formality, but by comfort, conversations lasting late into the night, and shared enjoyment. In 1969, the family immigrated to California. Alina immediately set to work rebuilding her professional life, undertaking full-time training to obtain her U.S. and California dentistry licenses while managing the essential demands of family life. In 1970, she earned her dental certificate from the American Dental Association, and in 1972, the State of California Board of Dental Examiners granted her license to practice dentistry. She first worked at the Charles Drew Center in East Palo Alto and later established her own dental practice at the Cupertino Town Center. Dentistry was not merely her profession; it was a source of pride and purpose. She retired in 2004 after decades of service to patients. Alina, Alex, and their daughters became naturalized United States citizens in 1975, a milestone that represented not only legal status, but the culmination of a long journey of self-determination and toward security. Alina was deeply engaged with innovative technology, aesthetics, and loved modern design. She was an early adopter of Macintosh computers, introducing digital record-keeping in her dental practice in the late 1980s – long before electronic records were commonplace. She also had a keen eye for fashion and was well known for her distinctive and stylish eyeglasses. Alina loved red: red sweaters, red nails, and even a red Tesla. Alina and Alex shared a love of travel, spending summers exploring the United States, Latin America, Europe, and many other parts of the world. These journeys reflected Alina’s lifelong appreciation for freedom, culture, and learning. Alina is survived by her daughters, Margaret Laporte and Katherine Gregory; their husbands, Léo Frederic Laporte and Philip Lawrence Gregory; her grandson, Noel Alexander Laporte; and many dear friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Alex. A celebration of Alina’s life will be scheduled soon. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Kaiser Permanente Hospice – Redwood City, 1718 Broadway St, Redwood City, CA 94063. Donations help support compassionate end-of-life care for patients and families. Alina’s strength, independence, and love of life remain a guiding presence. She will be deeply missed, and her force is with us.