America's Largest Catholic Newspaper
Frank J. Macchiarola, who served as president of St. Francis College in Brooklyn and earlier was chancellor of the New York City public schools, died Dec. 18 at his home in Brooklyn. He was 71.
He served as schools chancellor under Mayor Ed Koch, 1978-1983. During his tenure, he ended social promotions, dismissed a number of high school principals for poor performance and encouraged greater integration.
He was named president of St. Francis College in 1996 and spent the next 12 years serving his alma mater in this role before becoming its chancellor. His fund-raising efforts provided for the building of an academic center that now bears his name and a multipurpose athletic center as well as 150 endowed scholarships.
This year Pope Benedict XVI recognized him with the papal honor of Knight Commander of the Holy Order of St. Gregory the Great. He received the Catholic Teachers Association lifetime achievement award; and the Catholic Lawyers Guild Diocese of Brooklyn’s St. Thomas More Award.
Dr. Macchiarola was president and CEO of the New York City Partnership, 1983-1988. Mayor Michael Bloomberg appointed him chair of the New York City Charter Revision Commission.
He also spent five years as dean of Yeshiva University’s Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. He had also been a professor at Columbia University and at the City University of New York.
In addition to earning a bachelor’s degree from St. Francis, the Brooklyn native received a law degree and a doctorate in law and government, both from Columbia University.
His wife, Mary, and sons, Joseph, Michael and Frank, survive him. A Funeral Mass was offered Dec. 21 at St. James Cathedral-Basilica, Brooklyn. Burial followed at Holy Cross Cemetery, Brooklyn.
