Teacher Feature: Mr. Danny Fitzpatrick '09
Teacher Feature: Mr. Danny Fitzpatrick '09
From Dante to playing guitar in a rock band, MR. Fitzpatrick is the definition of a renaissance man
Known for pedagogical prowess as well as his for prolific body of literary work, Mr. Danny Fitzpatrick ‘09 is truly a renaissance man. The Blue Jay managed to sit down with him and document his journey, profession, and works.
Q: How did you decide to attend Jesuit?
A: All the men in my family attended Jesuit, most famous my grandfather and former Jesuit teacher and coach Clendon Butera ‘41. He grew up extremely poor, received a scholarship to attend this institution, and attributed his success to Jesuit. His influence is very strong. I also had no choice; in 3rd grade, my father said I was attending Jesuit.
Q: What was your Jesuit experience like?
A: I would say extremely unusual. I started as a freshman with Hurricane Katrina hitting within the first two weeks. My first year was tumultuous; my house was flooded. In the meantime, I attended Strake Jesuit in Houston and St. Martin’s in Metairie. My Jesuit years were strong on deep spiritual formation and intense academic development while difficult too. It was a lot of serious grinding labor. Praying in the small chapel during my off period doing Calculus helped both academically and spiritually.
Q: What about Calliope? Is that where you first started?
A: Calliope is the first place I had anything published. 2 poems my senior year to be exact.
Q: Were there any particular teachers that made an impact on time here at Jesuit?
A: Jeff Wilson. I still have my notebook from his class which forms a basis for my English III class.
Showalter Knight. I am one of the few people to have the honor of having him all 4 years. Absolute Jesuit legend.
Norm Stafford. His approach to literature is very formative.
Michael Prados. Taught me English and Latin while in Houston. Continuity of education in a time of crisis.
Q: How was Mr. McGannon’s class? Was he a help on the PSAT? I heard you had it with Mr. Flores.
A: I did have it with him. It was a whimsical journey of ceaseless entertainment, a world that defied all expectations and left me with countless memories but somehow gave me a deep literary experience. I sure did become a PSAT warrior.
Q: What made you choose the University of Dallas? Experience? Faith?
A: The influence of Fr. Hermes. He recommended it as an intellectually rigorous, authentic Catholic institution that was right for me. It did not hurt that it offered a competitive program for National Merit and a rich study abroad option.
UD offered many opportunities for a deepened prayer life. In Rome I was able to cultivate a sense of the Universal Church.
Q: Can you take us through your time working at the UD’s University Scholar?
I published several works and served as Editor-in-Chief. It was a very good time in a small, very fine publication composed mainly of Phi Betta Kappa members, so I had the opportunity to work with many of the finest scholars in the world.
Q: You were an inaugural ASC member. How did you find out about the ASC? What made you want to do it? What did you teach? What made you stay?
A: After WW2, my grandfather received an lucrative offer to work in Brazil. He turned it down in order to give back to his alma mater. I followed his example. I heard about it from Mr. Prados. I instructed 8th grade Theology and served as an assistant in Campus Ministry. My time was delightful, and it was a good way to start a teaching career. I enjoyed it so much and formed great relationships with colleagues, who always treated me with kindness and respect, that I could not let it go. I moved to the English department and taught for two more years.
Q: What’s behind your move to Hot Springs, Arkansas?
A: Mrs. Fitzpatrick is from Hot Springs. I started writing my first novel while teaching here, lived in the country, farmed on a small scale, and enrolled in a Master’s theology program in philosophy at Holy Apostle’s College. I completed the novel and went into the car business. I worked as a manager for Craine Auto Group and a Ford dealership. Only a Lover Sings and a Dante translation were published.
Q: And then from Arkansas to Tampa?
A: While on a promotional tour for Dante, I spent a day and guest lectured at Jesuit Tampa. I was so impressed, and they had an opening. I moved there.
“In recent years, fatherhood has primarily shaped my faith. I have a daily experience of mercy. I am constantly challenged and deepened, learning to be a servant to the people around me.”
Q: How did you meet Timothy Schmalz? What did y’all accomplish together?
A: We met because the publisher of my novel had a radio network. It interviewed Tim about his work. There it came to light that he was workong on 100 sculptures of Dante. I told the publisher what I was doing and then Tim called me about an illustrated translation. We worked around the same pace and collaborated and developed a friendship by prolonged, sustained attention to one beloved subject.
Q: What made you return to Jesuit New Orleans?
A: Tampa was incredible and it was doing remarkable things; however, we felt the lack of communal familial roots was unfeasible. As our family continues to grow, the importance of being close to family and the deep friendships we build becomes more obvious to us. When Jesuit was hiring English teachers, we moved right back.
Q: Compare your first stint to your second. Did you learn anything then that you apply now? What about from Tampa?
A: The physical campus has obviously changed. Working in the auto industry helped me take a more loving approach to the classroom. Time away has helped me see how good Jesuit students are. Tampa gives students an educational experience toward authentic human happiness than lower level goods. It is exceptionally good at demonstrating that the sake of education is to teach humans to fulfill their nature.
Q: What is Jois de Vivre? What is your role?
A: It is French for “The Joy of Living,” a journal of arts, culture, and letters for South Louisiana. Its aim is to show readers some of the cultural riches as creators. All sorts of makers have made one heck of an interesting place. It also has a lot of Catholic stuff, which ties into the history of Louisiana. Everything helps to tell a story of one remarkable place.
I am the Founding Editor for the project by the St. Louis IX Art Society. The Society was formed in 2023 with a focus on finding an artistic community in South Louisiana dedicate to the pursuit of beauty.
Q: What is your faith life, your faith journey?
A: Very non-tempestuous. 2 days after I turned 10, my mother suffered a stroke. Doctors were not certain that she would live and said her right side was paralyzed, but a Jesuit priest brought her a relic. The 1st day of wearing it, she watched mass on TV and tried the sign of the cross. She did it normally. Later she could do “Ode to Joy” on a therapy keyboard. Circumstances like that have made faith a bedrock of my life.
In recent years, fatherhood has primarily shaped my faith. I have a daily experience of mercy. I am constantly challenged and deepened, learning to be a servant to the people around me.
Q: You seem like a busy guy with all the great things you have done. What do you do in your free time?
A: I am a member of NOMA creative assembly. I enjoy writing, viewing art, playing guitar, fishing (not often). I sometimes sit in with the band Crescent Kings as an extra guitar player. I also like to read.
Q: And lastly, where are you ever to be found?
A: I am usually in 121 a little bit before school, during class, and the first half of lunch.I am in the cafeteria during the 2nd half of lunch. If I am not in either of those places, I am likely in Theology (more commonly) or English.