Rest in Peace, Bro. Mike Brinkman, SDB

By Fr. Mike Mendl, SDB

Bro. Michael Francis Brinkman, SDB, died peacefully Melech Hospice in Temple Terrace, Fla., at 11:40 a.m. on Tuesday, February 18, after a long illness and several hospitalizations. A member of the Salesian community at St. Philip the Apostle Residence in Tampa since 2012, he was 92 years old and a professed Salesian brother for more than 64 years.

Bro. Mike Brinkman was the son of Urban and Florentine Rentz Brinkman, born on May 4, 1932, in Dayton, Ohio. He was baptized 11 days later at St. Agnes Church in Dayton, and at the tender age of eight was confirmed at Our Lady of the Rosary Church in that city.

Before entering the Salesians, Mike served in the U.S. Air Force and also worked as a draftsman. Answering God’s call, Mike came to Don Bosco Seminary in Newton, N.J, in September 1958 as a “Son of Mary,” the term used for “late vocations” at the time. He was admitted to St. Joseph’s Novitiate in Newton as a coadjutor brother novice on September 7, 1959. The 64 novices (according to the Salesian directory) were guided by Fr. Aloysius Bianchi, master of novices. They included Bob Bauer, Paul Cossette, John Grinsell, Jerry Harasym, John Vetere, and Jerry Weirich, among others. They made their first religious profession on September 8, 1960, in Newton. Bro. Mike made his perpetual profession on July 1, 1967, at Ellenville, N.Y.

Bro. Mike’s first assignment was to Don Bosco Technical High School in Paterson, N.J., where he resided while studying electronics at the RCA Institute in New York City in 1960-1961. His courses were mostly math, physics, and drafting. He withdrew after one year.

In 1961 Bro. Mike moved west to Don Bosco Technical Institute in Rosemead, Calif., as a teacher. He stayed for three years before being assigned in 1964 to Don Bosco Technical High School in Boston as an electronics teacher, a role he carried out until 1976, and dean of discipline. During that time he earned an Associate’s degree in electronics from Northeastern University in 1970. He also took some courses at Boston College and wanted to enroll in a B.S. program at Boston University but couldn’t.

Of Bro. Mike’s time at DBT, former Salesian Bob Heilman, who was in practical training, says he was “blessed to work with him at DBT. A very kind and gentle brother.” Jim Hager, Class of 1974, remembers Brother’s roles as dean of students: “I was lucky – Bro. Brinkman was there during my four years. We had a ‘no sideburns’ rule and long hair had to be kept trimmed – this was from Sept. 1970 to June 1974. Bro. Mike led by example – we used to say he had ‘whitewalls’ over his ears because he kept it so neat and trimmed.”

Other DBT alumni echo Mr. Hager. Peter Masciola, Class of 1975, writes that after DBT he “went onto graduate from Stonehill College and New England Law School. I spent 30 years in the military as a JAG officer in the Air Force and I retired as a brigadier general. Brother Mike was one of my important role model leaders at Don Bosco, and his thoughtful, even-handed and compassionate guidance helped me be successful in life. But it’s not only me; there are many other Bosco students whom I personally witnessed during my four years, where Brother Mike had a similar effect. He was always there for us. He really was an embodiment of Saint Don Bosco, the way he cared for our success, and did everything he could to help us grow up.”

Dr. Jim Mullen, a retired Army officer, calls Bro. Mike “a great man and an inspirational servant leader. I fondly remember spending some quality time with Brother Brinkman when he was the dean of discipline at DBT. He was tough but fair and a true Christian role model for all of us.”

Richard Paris, a retired Boston fireman, says: “Brother Mike Brinkman was the best. He was a tough but fair. He always kept us on the straight and narrow. My locker was on the floor with his office in the new building. He always said to me, ‘Mr. Paris, I’m keeping eye on you.’ When I got in trouble junior year, he stuck up for me. When I became president of the Boston firefighters union, he contacted me to congratulate me.”

Everyone asserts that Bro. Mike will be missed and offers prayers for him.

Bro. Mike left Boston in 1976 to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in math at William Paterson College (now University) in Wayne, N.J. He completed his B.A. in 1979 and was named principal of Don Bosco Tech in Paterson; he served there one year.

The province found a good niche for Bro. Mike and his electronics ability at St. Thomas the Apostle Church’s school for disadvantaged young men in Harlem, New York City. He taught there under the auspices of the Don Bosco Harlem Association from 1980 to 1991. In 1985 he asked to study toward an M.S. degree in training and learning technology at New York Institute of Technology. That didn’t come about, however.

But Bro. Mike made his mark in the lives of many students. One, Rod Logan, wrote to him in 2006 from Texas: “I constantly think about all the valuable life lessons I learned while attending Don Bosco Harlem. They have proven to be very instrumental in my growth into manhood and fatherhood. In addition, they have helped me professionally... I have been truly blessed to have people like you come into my life and make significant contributions towards my development as a human being... I’m sure I’m just one of many who are reaping the rewards of your tireless efforts.”

Bro. Mike spent the 1991-1992 pastoral year at the Salesian Center in Columbus, Ohio, as program director at the Salesian Boys & Girls Club. In 1992 he moved to New Rochelle, N.Y., to work at Don Bosco Multimedia while belonging to the provincial residence community. In 1996 another one-year assignment followed at the youth center attached to St. Philip Benizi Parish in Belle Glade, Fla.

Bro. Mike returned to New Rochelle in 1997 to reside at Salesian High School as the community’s treasurer and work in the province’s development office. In 2001 he went back to Columbus as a staff member at the Boys & Girls Club until the Club closed in 2008. Fr. Mike Eguino, who was a young Salesian then, recalls: “I first met Bro. Mike in Columbus. He was in charge of the bowling alley. He did such a great job maintaining the machines [that] the bowling company would send their technicians to learn from him how to fix the machines. He cared for the men in formation who would come to spend their summers at the Club. I always found he was a man with wisdom and grounded spirituality. I was blessed to live with him in Columbus, Orange, and Tampa.”

Bro. Mike stayed in Columbus for awhile after the Club’s closure, then moved in 2010 to the Salesian residence in Haverstraw for a few months. He was assigned to the house of formation in Orange, N.J., from 2010 to 2012. Early in that time he celebrated his golden anniversary of profession.

Over the years Bro. Mike distinguished himself as a respected teacher, prudent administrator, and caring youth minister.

Bro. Mike is survived by his brother Fred and his sisters Lois Kenkare and Ann Oberer. One sister pre-deceased him.  A nephew and other family members also survive him.

 

Funeral Arrangements

at Mary Help of Christians Church, Tampa

Wednesday, February 26

Visitation: 8:30 a.m.

Funeral Mass: 10:00 a.m.

 

at the Marian Shrine, Stony Point-Haverstraw, N.Y.

Friday, February 28

Visitation: 4:00 to 6:45 pm

Mass of Christian Burial: 7:00 p.m.

 

at Salesian Cemetery, Goshen, N.Y.

Saturday, March 1

Burial: 10:00 a.m.