NEW BEDFORD The New Bedford City Council voted unanimously Thursday night to begin the process of renaming one of the city s three middle schools after the late former Mayor Frederick Kalisz Jr.
Seven councilors Ian Abreu, Naomi Carney, Maria Giesta, Brian Gomes, Linda Morad, William Markey and Scott Lima filed the motion to rededicate one of the schools in his name during the council meeting.
Kalisz, who died at 63 from COVID-19 complications on Jan. 27, oversaw the construction of three new middle schools during his tenure as mayor from 1998 to 2006: Roosevelt Middle School, 2001; Normandin Middle School, 2003; and Keith Middle School, 2006.
The councilors wrote the new schools were the first to be constructed in almost 30 years as a result of Kalisz s unrelenting leadership and guidance.
Momentum Building for Naming a School for Fred Kalisz [OPINION]
The sudden death of former Mayor Fred Kalisz has galvanized the city of New Bedford and beyond. Everyone is in agreement that his name and legacy must live on in some form.
Mayor Jon Mitchell described Fred Kalisz as an urban mechanic in the best sense of the title. He was elected by his neighbors to represent Ward 2 and he flourished in that position. He mastered the legislative process and he earned his way into being elected mayor. While he was mayor, he built three schools using his skills as a politician who understood process and procedure.
Before his term, he was city councilor for Ward 2 and worked for Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program in toxics reduction. After leaving office, he led the Parents Alliance for Catholic Education, earned degrees in law and public policy, guest lectured at local universities, volunteered at the city s Polish church and took on the role of register of deeds for Bristol County s southern district in 2017.
His brother, Michael Kalisz, shared the news in a Facebook post that brought hundreds of comments in just a few hours, many of which recalled personal memories with the former mayor. Fred was just such a remarkable man, a remarkable brother, a caring son, a loving husband and father, said Michael Kalisz, 57. He was always there whatever the need and tried to do whatever he could for whoever it was. It feels so unfair he was taken away before we could enjoy more time together.