Saint Mary's Magazine Fall 2004 - Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Teaching and
inspiring
for 40 years
With the exception of Mister
Rogers, never has a humble man
in a sweater taught so many young
minds and touched so many
young hearts.
For 40 years, Father Andrew
Fabian, OP, has taught philosophy
courses at the Winona campus of Saint
Mary’s University.
Teaching in one place for 40 years
makes Father Fabian a celebrity by
default. But his distinguished — and
frequently imitated — mannerisms, as
well as the valuable life lessons he has
given to hundreds of SMU students,
have promoted his title to “living
legend.”
His classes were memorable and
his words profound. (To many of his
students, the memorable arch of his
eyebrow spoke even more than words.)
Woe’s the student who came to one
of Father Fabian’s classes unprepared to
“join the intellectual ballgame.”
But for those willing to participate
in class, Father Fabian’s lessons are
priceless. Many say he encouraged
students to follow their dreams, to know
there can be more than one correct
answer, and — throughout life — to
always take the stairs, no matter how
much an elevator may tempt you.
A man with a photographic
memory, Father Fabian also taught
students the importance of always
remembering someone by name.
And for many, his words will echo
throughout these halls forever.
“Good, better, best, never let it rest
until the good becomes better and the
better becomes best.”
But Father Fabian’s story is best
told by the students who know and love
him. Here is just a sampling of excerpts
from tributes former students have
supplied for this story. Rest assured,
Father Fabian, they “said what they
meant and meant what they said.” ➜
FATHER FABIAN
WWW.SMUMN.EDU/MAGAZINE 13