Brother Michael Fitzgibbon, FSC

I will miss Mike greatly from the community at DLSH. Mike was always positive and upbeat even until these last days. Mike was an Irish Story Teller. I heard many tales from his early days here and enjoyed being in his presence. As the years have gone on and dementia has set in the stories became more fabricated and from his reality. They were still wonderful to hear because his beautiful spirit always shone through them. Listening was my way of being present to him and of praying for him. He loved to tell stories of his time in Africa and stories of his beloved family and growing up in the Bronx. I hope his positive spirit stays with us.

I was in his second class in GSS and had him for the 6th and 7th grade. He was warm and understanding about the fairly wild and intelligent child that I was (even tiring me to the chair once). He was wonderful to me when my father died and a tower of strength for me. I moved away for a while and, when I visited, he included me on bike hikes and other things — and then our life’s separated. I ran into him years later at Br. Gregory Hunt’s funeral and he was just as warm and funny as he had been 40 years before and my friends and I became visitors to him in Lincroft. We later organized a dinner for him at Good Shepherd and presented him with small gifts. I remained in telephone contact with him until shortly before he died. i had many teachers over a long academic career and I have been telling people this week that he was one of the 4 best I ever had. I have also told many people in the last 70 years how warm, calming, and sensitive he was when my father died suddenly. He was a special person and I will think of him often.

Brother Michael was my 7th & 8th grade teacher at Good Shepherd School, in northern
Manhattan, 1952 & 1953. He was teaching/mentoring 60, 12 & 13 year old boys during those 2 years. Yes, 60 boys!

His self confident calm demeanor was all that was needed to keep the urchins in check.
He was in charge & we knew it. I don’t remember him ever raising his voice. He didn’t have to.
He was a great teacher, a respected role model, humble, an NYC sense of humor, athletic,
later in life a friend, a spiritual man of God.

Thank you for everything Brother Michael, till we meet again,
Rest In Peace. ❤️🙏❤️

Terry ‘53

i had the opportunity to work with Mike at De La Salle Academy. We had a part time opening for an art teacher. At s district meeting I happened to mention it to Mike and he said that he would love to take a crack at it. He would come in two afternoons a week and work with the class. As to be expected, the kids fell in love with him. He was the Brother Michael we all knew and he really connected with the kids. He would commute in from Paramus on the days he taught. He was never late! To this day some of the alumni ask about him when we have reunions. He contributed to the Lasallian culture at De La Salle by his spirit of warmth and acceptance. Always a smile…never a frown.

Brother Michael taught biology at Christian Brothers Academy (CBA) in Albany, NY (1961-68) and was the coach of the golf team (an excellent golfer himself). His classes and lab sessions were well presented, organized and enjoyed by his students, a good number of whom went on to careers in medicine and science. Brother Michael was engaging, motivating and respected in and out of the classroom.

Robert G. Conway, Jr.
Class of 1969, CBA, Albany, NY

Brother Mike was a good teacher and role model. I especially remember his calm demeanor and sincere interest in teaching and guiding his students. He had fatherly presence and was genuinely a good man.