Grontkowski, an associate professor of philosophy, came to Fordham in 1958 as graduate student and began teaching two years later. When he was awarded a doctorate in 1964, his dissertation was “Descartes and Galileo: New Views on the Philosophy of Nature.”

He was among the first doctoral students to be inducted into the Fordham chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, and in 1961 he was the first layperson to receive a full-time appointment in the philosophy department.

A passionate teacher according to those who knew him, he was director of the Fordham College Honors Program as well as the pre-medical advisor for first year students. This spring marked his 117th semester of service to the University-during which time it is estimated he taught classes such as Modern Philosophy and Epistemology to close to 16,000 students.

His dedication to students was reflected in his Bene Merenti award, which he received in 1981 for 20 years of service. In the citation, it was noted that:

“The whole campus is his office, for he is available to students at any time of the day. He offers advice to them when they seek it, holds extra classes when they need it, visits them when they are ill, and occasionally invites groups of faculty and students to his apartment for dinner, which he prepares himself with [most]gustatorial splendor.”

Margaret Donovan, FCRH ’77, administrative assistant for the philosophy department, knew “Dr. G.” as both a professor and a colleague, having taken his History of Modern Philosophy class as an undergraduate in 1975. In 2005, she joined the department and found herself in an adjacent office. They bonded over subjects as varied as Broadway, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and action movies.

“Ray was a remarkable person. He was kind and generous. He was an incredibly efficient and understanding undergraduate chair, which is why he served in the position for 25 years,” she said.

“However, he was at his best when he was in the classroom, and he was still passionate and dynamic at the age of 83. He loved to teach and he loved his students. I will miss him dearly.”

John J. Drummond, the Robert Southwell S.J. Distinguished Professor in Philosophy and the Humanities, said that in the six years he served as chair of the department, Grontkowski, who was associate chair for undergraduate studies from 1987 to 2012, was an “operational master at getting the trains to run on time.”

“I never had to worry about courses be scheduled, instructors being found, students being advised, add-drops, and the like,” he said.

Drummond said he had fond memories of discussing and debating over Broadway plays, in particular Hamilton, which, much to his chagrin, Grontkowski did not find appealing.

“Over those years, I became familiar with what a marvelous teacher Ray was.  His teaching evaluations were consistently extraordinary-“rave reviews,” in fact,” he said.

Jude Jones, Ph.D., FCRH ’85, associate professor of philosophy, did not have Grontkowski as a teacher when she attended Fordham as an undergraduate. But she recalled classmates speaking of him as “deeply committed, helpful, and uncannily able to bring a kind of human sense of humor even into subjects that tended to be unsettling, like death itself.”

Jones recalled that he was caring for his ailing mother when she joined the philosophy faculty. Years later, when she found herself in a similar situation with her own parents, he was “always supportive and empathetic.” She said he also had a sly sense of humor.

“Some of my favorite memories of Ray are his teasing about assigning me 8 a.m. classes if I didn’t accomplish a necessary task on time, and then immediately shifting gears to tell me about the latest Broadway show he had seen or was about to see,” she said.

“Ray was a unique human being and a cornerstone in Fordham philosophy’s identity through much of the second half of the 20th century. I will miss him and his mischievous but humane humor, and his great passion for life and service.”

Grontkowski is survived by his brother Thomas and sister-in-law Christine Grontkowski, GSAS ’69, who also earned a doctorate in philosophy.

Viewing:
Tuesday, Feb. 27 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m.
McGrath Funeral Home
20 Cedar Street, Bronxville

Mass of Christian Burial:
Wednesday, Feb 28, 10:30 a.m.
Fordham University Church, Rose Hill campus

“Today Fordham mourns one of its leading lights,” said Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of Fordham. “Dominic Balestra has been a presence at the University for more than 40 years. In that time he has been a wise and kindly mentor to generations of philosophy students, a much beloved colleague, and a true friend. Our hearts go out to his loved ones, who we keep in our thoughts and prayers.”

A viewing will be held on Friday, Nov. 11, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Pelham Funeral Home, 64 Lincoln Ave, Pelham, New York. A funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, Nov. 12, at 10 a.m. St. Catherine’s Church, 25 Second Avenue, Pelham, New York.

Balestra joined the philosophy department in 1975. As a tenured professor, in addition to teaching he dedicated his time to supporting the faculty, serving on the Faculty Senate, overseeing the Department of Philosophy, and to countless other administrative boards.

He served as the dean of the arts and sciences faculty from 2004 to 2006.

“Dom’s contributions extended far beyond his positions and titles,” said John Drummond, Ph.D., chair of the philosophy department. “He was always available for advice, whether you were a student, faculty member, or administrator.”

Prior to his time at Fordham, Balestra was a lecturer and assistant director of the honors program at St. Louis University. He received his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from St. Francis College in Loretto, Pennsylvania, and his doctorate in philosophy from St. Louis University.

But it is his contributions to the Fordham community that will immortalize him in the University’s history, said Drummond.

“He was the repository of an enormous institutional memory, but he was not hide-bound to the past and was innovative in his thinking about how best to educate our students,” he said.  “Dom was influential in building the department, making many important hires, and identifying promising candidates for the faculty and our graduate programs.”

Curran Center for American Catholic Studies administrator Maria Terzulli, who was hired by Balestra in 1990, recalled a “unique kindness” in him. Just one week after starting her job, her son got pneumonia; she knew she’d have to take time from work and thought she would lose her job.

“I went and told Dom but he said, ‘Your family comes first. Go take care of your child,’” recalled Terzulli. “He was the embodiment of the Jesuit model of cura personalis.”

In addition to his service to Fordham, Balestra contributed greatly to the academic sphere; he was the author of over 35 philosophical articles and delivered more than 40 lectures at universities and professional conferences around the world.

“As a teacher, Dom — ‘Dr. B’ to many of the students — was beloved,” said Drummond. “His wisdom, his good humor, his concern for students all combined to make him one of the department’s best and most popular teachers.

“He will be very badly missed all across the University.”

Balestra is survived by his wife, Mary, daughters, Elisa and Ann, and son Mike.

–Mary Awad