A Brooklyn family is mourning the loss of their 13-year-old son and citing bullying as the cause for the boy’s untimely death.
Daniel Fitzpatrick, a seventh grader at Holy Angels Catholic Academy, Bay Ridge, took his own life in his Staten Island home on Thursday, Aug. 11. His sister reportedly found Daniel in the attic of the family home.
A funeral Mass was to be celebrated at Sacred Heart Church in West New Brighton, Staten Island, Aug. 17.
Several weeks before his death, Danny wrote of his painful experience as a student at Holy Angels Catholic Academy. Danny said his classmates continuously tormented him and that the school’s principal and most teachers “didn’t do anything” to help him.
Maureen Fitzpatrick, Danny’s mother, released the note in a Facebook posting on Aug. 12. The family set up a GoFundMe page that had raised $120,967 as of Tuesday, Aug. 16. According to the page, the family plans to use the funds to give their son and brother “a proper memorial, as well as shine a bright light on the bullying that killed him.”
In a video posted to YouTube, Danny’s father, also named Daniel Fitzpatrick, said, “He and I went to the school, went to the principal.” All I got was, and all he got was, ‘you’ll be fine. Is he in counseling?’”
“I have no words to describe the pain I am feeling right now,” he said. “Danny was a kind, gentle little soul.”
In at letter sent to parents after Danny’s death, Rosemarie McGoldrick, the principal of Holy Angels Catholic Academy said, “Like many of yours, my heart is broken.”
McGoldrick went on to assure parents that bullying at the Catholic school is taken seriously and that incidents involving Danny were addressed “thoughtfully and thoroughly.”
Mike Long, chairman of the board of directors of Holy Angels Catholic Academy and longtime Brooklyn resident, said, “The faculty and the administration did everything humanly possible to help that young man. They not only cared, they loved Danny very much. There’s a lot more to this very sad story that people are unaware of.”
“As an educator and as a parent, the loss of Danny Fitzpatrick breaks my heart,” said Dr. Thomas Chadzutko, superintendent of Catholic schools in Brooklyn and Queens.
“My colleagues and I at the diocese will do whatever we can to help the Holy Angels Academy students, parents and faculty to heal from this unspeakable tragedy, as well as continue providing resources that equip our Catholic educators to address the developmental needs of all our children throughout the diocese.”
A spokesperson for the Diocese of Brooklyn said that teachers at Holy Angels have undergone comprehensive bullying prevention training and that in addition to intervening in any conflict involving Daniel and other students, the school disciplined anyone accused of bullying. At the invitation of the academy, the police discussed bullying with the seventh-and eighth-grade classes, including Daniel’s class.
According to the school, the principal regularly met with Daniel’s father and placed Daniel in therapy with a professional school guidance counselor. The school says Daniel’s parents chose to discontinue that therapy after a few sessions.
Holy Angels Catholic Academy says it is re-examining all of its procedures and policies.
Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio is asking for everyone’s prayers.
“We mourn the passing of Daniel Fitzpatrick. His family is in our prayers. While there are many unanswered questions, it is indisputable that this is an unspeakable tragedy,” the bishop said.
“We must always remain vigilant and attentive to the emotional needs of the children in our care.”
