Brother John Malachy

Today marks the 26th anniversary of the sudden death of a dynamic, compassionate, loving and loveable brother, Brother John Malachy.who died of a massive heart attack at noon in the foyer of the "Gold House" in the Bronx at noon on the first day of school at Mount St. Michael Academy in the Bronx.  His death came as  double shock since he had just been given a clean bill of health from the Lahey Clinic, where he went for a check up after leaving Central Catholic High School for his new assignment. Representatives from the areas in which he served, Poughkeepsie, Trumbull, CT, Chicago, Wheeling, WV and Lawrence told stories of how his gift of reaching out to them had changed their lives.  Indeed, Br. John took the words of St. Marcellin, to love all, equally, and to make Jesus known and loved especially to the most neglected, literally.  He was noted for his preference to teach the "learning challenged", as we would say today, or to make friends with the shy and withdrawn students and help them see their true worth and raise their self-esteem to the level where they later became leaders in their professions.  Even today, people will tell me that they are a "Br. John Malachy product" and wouldn't be where they are if it were not for him.  Br. John made no bones about his special talent, but pursued his teaching and his extra-curriculars with genuine enthusiasm and energy. His classroom featured parakeets and tropical fish as "conversation starters" which helped the students with poor self-images to find interests in something outside of themselves, begin to talk, write, and learn.  Br. John taught his students manners, how to dress and eventually, how to keep their heads up high and behave professionally.  As a bus driver he wore white gloves, which became his noted trademark.  They served as a symbol of his clean-cut, "good guy" expectations which rubbed off on those in his charge.  What a model for us a Central Catholic today, as we begin our first day of the 2011-2012 academic year!
Bro. Rene