Bill-Jesinkey-AFSCThe ministries of the legacy LINE District are now enfolded into DENA. While the foundation of the ministry of the Martin de Porres Schools was built by the Christian Brothers, the name, person, and work of this man Bill Jesinkey, is equally extensive.

Our foundation of the Brothers of the Christian Schools is the “response to a need!” The sensitivities of the teenaged John Baptist de La Salle, while a student in the Seminary, were moved by his witness of many very young boys running wild in the streets. When he returned to Rheims he found the same social situation. Eventually, the Holy Spirit prompted him to admit that he was called to provide a remedy to this social need. The Method he deemed as salvation was to establish schools with a stable body of teachers, and a method of operating a school.

Bill Jesinkey was a guidance counselor at PS 4 in Astoria, New York City in the early 60’s. PS 4 was what was called, at that time, a “600 School”. These schools had been deemed necessary by the City Board of Education to take care of ‘troubled’ children, or ‘children who caused trouble’. In many ways these were the children whom teachers did not want in their classes, nor did Principals wish to deal with them. They became “The last, the least, and the lost!” In fact after a series of absences these children were ‘simply forgotten’. Bill was consumed with compassion for these children and sought a remedy to the situation.

The Diocese of Brooklyn built one of its new High Schools in one section of Astoria. It was given the name of “Mater Christi”, and the Bishop had requested that the Christian Brothers staff the Boys’ Department. Although Bill was a graduate of Manhattan College where he had been a student of the Brothers, he found out – by chance – that the Brothers were now in Astoria. Knowing the foundation and the Educational ministry of the Brothers, Bill met with the Principal – at that time, Brother Paul Good win – and requested help to establish a school for the education of the children of the streets in Astoria.

As with John Baptist de La Salle, there were difficulties in establishing a school for the needy children. Through several difficult years, the Christian Brothers, in cooperation with Bill Jesinkey, were able to begin a school. The classes were first conducted in the basement of the Astoria Housing Projects.

Bill provided a remarkable and historic means to help the establishment of that school, which eventually took the name of “Martin de Porres” , which was the name a local parish gave to a community center. Bill, as part of the Board of Education of the City of New York, searched for funding for the school. He found out that no funds were available for the type of school needed for the street children. In fact, he discovered that no study had been made of this needy population in schools. He, therefore, set himself to research this matter in education. His very substantial essay on the situation became the first serious study of ‘troubled’ children in schools in the United States. With this knowledge and substantiation, Bill was able to receive funding and the recognition of the Board of Education for the Martin de Porres School.

Two very large movements were begun at that time: the search began for students; and the legal machinery was set in motion to establish the school. The Brothers assisted Bill in both areas. In 1972 the Martin de Porres school was in existence. Through the years since then the school has grown, and has moved its location many times. A school of this kind needs many approvals and certifications to be accepted in the Public Domain. Eventually the school became “The Martin de Porres Organization, Inc.” a private, certified school which offers services for Special Education of Troubled Children. The Board of Education of the City of New York hires the services of this organization.

This may seem a lengthy presentation, yet at this point all this has the true elements of a Lasallian process to an educational ministry. The Brothers are involved, but so is the person, competence, and generosity of Bill Jesinkey. De La Salle dealt with bureaucracy – this, in his mind was dealing with the reality of this world where students are and education is pursued. Bill responded to the need of children, which is the Lasallian way of action – respond to the needs of children.

Bill passed away on Christmas Day, 2014. He succumbed to wounds from an accidental fall. Recently it was found out that Bill was an atheist. He was a man of great gifts of devotion to humanity, and man who lived a life of respect, and love for others. His concern for poor children is evidence of his deep humanity. So, we see the goodness of one who has lived his inherent humanity with all the devotion and search for goodness that involves. His obituary card has the statement of Francis of Assisi: “Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible”. Bill is an Affiliated member of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. May his name and his work be long remembered and esteemed by all Brothers and Lasallians.