R. I. P. Mr. McCormack
Arthur K. McCormack, 92, of pocantico Hills, passed away peacefully at his home on may 26, 2016. Art was born on February 29th, in the leap year of 1924. raised in Yonkers, new York, he attended St. Denis elementary School before enrolling in a preparatory program at Cathedral College. After high school, he spent two years at Dunwoodie Seminary and then completed his undergraduate work at manhattan College, obtaining a degree in political science. Art worked for eastern Airlines, where he quickly rose through the ranks of ticket agent, supervisor and trainer to the position of manager at the east Side Terminal. Art proved to colleagues at eastern Airlines his considerable gifts as a storyteller and teacher, and they urged him to consider the possibility that his real place in life was in education.
1979
Farewell
After completing a master’ s program at Fordham university in 1966, Art became a member of the Social Studies Department at Fordham preparatory School. in addition to his teaching duties, Art was the director of admissions, the financial aid coordinator, and he performed various other roles throughout his tenure. He was the first faculty representative elected to the Board of Trustees: he served from 1970 to 1996 including 20 years as its secretary. Art’ s career at the prep spanned 44 years, and he was inducted into the school’ s Hall of Honor in 2009.
2002
Though he retired from full-time teaching in 1999, Art stayed on a part-time basis as coordinator of student research, guiding students from several history courses through their research projects. He surprised much younger people by quickly mastering the intricacies of the internet.
An alumnus wrote of him:“ i learned many things from mr. mcCormack, from how he drank his coffee— black with one ice cube— to his many memorable expressions, including‘ Take your hats off, fellas; you never know when a flag may go by.’ i also got to know that he was a religious man, a family man, a dedicated teacher and an all-around down-to-earth person.”
Art is predeceased by his wife regina( 2013), and is survived by his five children: Sean’ 69, Kevin’ 71, Kerry’ 72, maureen and Artie’ 83; as well as seven grandchildren: Colleen, Kevin Barry, emily, matthew, madeline, Thomas and William.
We will all miss Arthur mcCormack.
Recently the Prep’ s three Directors of Admissions shared memories and plans. L-r: Christopher Lauber’ 79, Arthur mcCormack and Bradley Serton’ 95.
Spring / Summer 2016 | 13