CATCHING UP ROSEMARIE FABRIZIO

SPIRIT

Catching Up

ROSEMARIE FABRIZIO FORMER GILMOUR GUIDANCE COUNSELOR

It’s not every day that we catch up with a guidance counselor in this space. In fact, Rosemarie Fabrizio is the first. When she started as a counselor at Gilmour in 1984, she had never worked as a counselor, even with a master’s in guidance and counseling from John Carroll University. Here, she talks about being welcomed into the fold at Gilmour, finding her calling and what she’s been up to in the years since.

What was it like for you starting at Gilmour? I was very blessed to work with the three most kind and caring individuals: Father John Blazek, C.S.C. ’58, Brother Robert Kelly, C.S.C. and Brother James Maroney, C.S.C. Each of them mentored me and helped me acclimate. There also was a group of welcoming teachers when I came on board. It was my first counseling experience. I was able to venture into college counseling, and that became very important to me.

Why is that? College counseling is where I found my niche. When I went through training, there was very little taught about college counseling. The focus was on general counseling. College counseling focuses on helping students find a college that fits with their goals. I learned that I really liked it, and that I was good at it.

What makes for a good college counselor? The fact that you accept every student as they are and interact with them in an understanding way. A college counselor is part of an important decision-making process for students and their families, and they should tailor the college search to each student’s goals. I always sought to match them with a college experience that best suited them, one that would allow them to grow. My philosophy was always that there are different schools for different students at different points in their lives.

“ I always sought to match them with a college experience that best suited them, one that would allow them to grow.”

What was the college application process like when you worked here? We sent everything through the mail. Nothing was computerized. The English teachers and I would proofread the essays for kids and make sure that everything was correct when we sent it off. When students applied to college, the college admissions office got a full package. It was very different from the virtual and electronic way applications are submitted today, even before the pandemic. But the students’ aspirations are the same.

What was students’ No. 1 concern in the 1980s? There were several schools that suddenly became competitive, so it was time to figure out what was going to be a good match. The most common questions were “What should I study?” and “What if I don’t get into my top choices?” A good counselor navigates that anxiety and helps students cover their bases so they can find a match.

Why did you leave Gilmour? Orange High School recruited me to formulate and implement a college guidance program. As at Gilmour, interaction with students and parents was my favorite aspect of the job. I returned to Gilmour as a parent when Johanna ’92 attended and am now a Gilmour grandparent. My granddaughter Gia Parker ’23, is a sophomore. Gilmour will always be an important part of my life.

How are you spending life in retirement? I retired from Orange to spend more time with my family, and I’m fortunate to be close with my two granddaughters, Gia, a Gilmour sophomore, and Carina, 10. Since the pandemic, I have become more of a homebody, and I’m spending more time with my husband, Sal. I am active on the board of the Parkledge Homeowners Association and serve on the Citizens Advisory Committee in Mayfield Village. I cook a bit more than I used to and am an avid reader. Sal and I have been using this time to reflect on what’s important to us.

Gia Parker '23, Rosemarie Fabrizio, Sal Fabrizio, Carina Parker, Johanna Parker '92 and Jason Parker