Farewell
The Fordham Prep community recently learned that two of its most
respected members are retiring.
gain an impression of each school’s character and feel.
in the days before the Common Application process
made it possible for students to submit one application
to numerous colleges with one keystroke, Father took on
the responsibility of writing a recommendation for each
application that a student sent to individual schools.
Fr. Mal Fitzpatrick, SJ was assigned to the prep as a
Jesuit scholastic in September of 1954, and taught Latin,
greek and english. After his ordination, he returned to
the prep in September 1962 as head of the guidance
Department, making immediate changes to the college
selection process. in a precedent-breaking move, he
opened the application process to include non-Catholic
colleges. He began visiting colleges so that he could see
and hear for himself what colleges were offering and
in the late 1960s, Fr. Fitzpatrick created the beginnings
of the current group guidance program at the prep.
The program became part of the prep’s curriculum in the
late 1970s with students meeting with their counselors
weekly during their four years. Father mal's masterpiece,
the prep's College Counseling program, was recognized
by the national Association of College Admission
Counselors as an exemplar for schools nationwide.
in recent years, Fr. Fitzpatrick has dedicated his time to
counseling and teaching Ap Art History. For many years
he has shared his love of art with students and staff,
developing one of the largest art collections of any high
school.
Over the past 57 years, Fr. Fitzpatrick has been a counselor
to thousands of prep students, a mentor to colleagues
and a true man for others.
and Counseling in 1999. To his department, he was not
just a director, he was an honest and effective leader,
a genuine role model, a skillful teacher, a great listener
and advisor, and a trusted friend.
For over 30 years, mike also co-facilitated the bereavement
group, a support group offered to students in all years who
have experienced the death of a loved one. This support
group has been used as a model by the Bereavement
Center of Westchester and has been replicated in
numerous Jesuit high schools across the country.
Michael Lacinak started his career at Fordham prep in
the guidance department in 1978. in his early years,
mike was instrumental in helping Fr. Fitzpatrick pioneer
Fordham prep’s group guidance program, which has
been a guidance curriculum model for Jesuit schools
around the country.
mike succeeded Fr. Fitzpatrick as the Director of guidance
12 | r AmV ie W
in 2014, mike stepped down as Director of the guidance
and Counseling Department, but continued to serve as a
part-time counselor working with freshman students.
Over the years mike has offered his guidance and support
not only to his students, but also to his colleagues on the
faculty and has done so with grace, humility and love. We
are grateful for the many gifts mike has shared with all of
us —his loving, open and supportive presence, his daily
optimism, creativity and hard work, and his dedication to
the mission of Fordham prep.