Please Pray for the Repose of the Soul of Brother Michael Fitzgibbon, FSC
1925 – 2021
Born John George Fitzgibbon in New York NY on 19 April 1925
Died at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank NJ on 17 September 2021
Entered the Barrytown NY Novitiate in June 1944
Received the Religious Habit and Name Angelus Michael on 7 September 1944
Pronounced Perpetual Vows at La Salle Military Academy in Oakdale NY in 1950
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS
Tuesday, 21 September 2021
Graveside Prayer Service & Interment – 11.00am
Saint Gabriel’s Cemetery
549 County Road 520 (Newman Springs Road)
Marlboro NJ 07746
Memorial Mass at De La Salle Hall – TBD
Brother Michael died early Friday morning due to complications from COVID-19.
The District of Eastern North America remembers Brother Michael with memorial liturgies according to the tradition of the Institute. Through their prayers, communities and individuals entrust Brother Michael to God’s loving care.
May he rest in peace.
ASSIGNMENTS
1948–1953
New York NY
Good Shepherd Elementary School
1953–1958
Lincolndale NY
Lincoln Hall
1958–1961
Detroit MI
De La Salle Collegiate
1961–1968
Albany NY
Christian Brothers Academy
1968–1969
Musoma Tanzania
Saint Pius X Makoko Seminary
1969–1971
Moshi Tanzania
Umbwe Secondary School
1971–1972
Paramus NJ
Paramus Catholic High School
1972–1975
Albany NY
Christian Brothers Academy
1975–1977
Buffalo NY
Saint Joseph’s Collegiate Institute
1977–1978
Lincroft NJ
Christian Brothers Academy
1978–1978
Santa Fe NM
Sangre de Cristo (renewal: 2nd semester)
1978–1995
Paramus NJ
Paramus Catholic High School
1995–1996
Bronx NY
Christian Brothers Center (resident)
1996–2015
Lincroft NJ
Christian Brothers Academy (resident)
2015–2021
Lincroft NJ
De La Salle Hall (resident)
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.
Mike’s soul radiated beyond his body to all that he could see around him. I could feel it as a blessing and as something to share. Mike, help us to keep it going.
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.
Charlie O’Connell, DLSH
We should all have the grace to live 9+ decades with such dignity, dedication, and true humility. Think of the thousands and thousands of youngsters who will be better people because they knew this sweet gentle man.
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
Brother Mike Fitgibbon was an extraordinary person. He was a prayerful religious, a teacher, administrator, missionary, athlete, artist, musician, story teller and so many other things. He did it all and did it with grace, goodness and humility. He loved his family and frequently spoke of them. He was a “Juniorate Guy” who often reminded everyone of his Barrytown exploits. In all my years with Mike I never heard him say a negative word about anyone. Mike was a “Brothers’ Brother”. May he rest in peace!
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.
My (great-uncle) Uncle Jack taught me to play the clarinet. And instilled in me my lifelong love of music. Which has now become my career.
His kindness, generosity and love will be missed and remembered. I will think of you every time I play the clarinet and music in general! And Uncle Jack “toot some like Benny Goodman”!!
Love forever,
Peter
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
Uncle Jack (great uncle to me and great-great uncle to my 2 boys) was an amazing presence in my life and in my family. And it warms my heart to read from everyone else’s life he has touched.
He was an inspiration to me to also become a teacher. And the best advice he gave to me every new school year would be…”Don’t smile until Christmas”. I will miss his sense of humor and kind nature.
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.