English Department

Dr. Michael Prochilo

Former President Nancy Harrington's notice to the Salem State College community

The Salem State community mourns the loss of Michael Prochilo, Professor emeritus of the English Department, who died September 14 after a four month battle with lung cancer.

Dr. Prochilo retired at the end of the Fall 2003 semester after over 28 years of service to the College, but continued to teach occasional courses for the English Department graduate program.  He came to Salem State after five years teaching in the Revere Public School System.

Mike had a long history with Salem State, first graduating with a B.S. in Education/English in 1959.  He then received an MA from Boston College in 1964.  After teaching in the Revere Public School system he was hired as an instructor in the English department in 1965.  He subsequently earned a doctorate in Education from Boston University in 1975 and became a stalwart of the secondary education teacher preparation program for both the English Department and the College.

In his tenure at Salem State, Mike earned promotions from Assistant to Associate and finally to Full Professor in 1985.  His service over such a long period includes too many activities to list, but some stand out as contributions that continue to serve the College.  He single-handedly created the Secondary Education track for English majors and maintained strict standards for admission and retention in the program.  As Co-Chair, Mike took a leadership role in writing both the College's first and second NCATE accreditation reports.  Mike's thoroughness and attention to detail earned the College this important accreditation.  In subsequent years, his portfolio for the English teacher education program became a model for other departments.  That program remains so solid that it passed the recent submission for the current NCATE report with minor conditions.  

In 2001, Mike submitted the College's NEASC accreditation report after several years working as editor.  Again, his attention to detail assured the College a full accreditation.  Then again in 2005 he worked tirelessly on the five year interim report.

These facts hardly express the impact that Mike had on the College.  He was typical of both our student body and our faculty as a first generation member of his family to receive a college degree.  Justifiably proud of his accomplishments, he maintained an old world traditional decorum with students that some found disconcerting.  Yet his insistence on strict standards for any student in the secondary education program earned him their respect and admiration.  

Mike was also just fun to be around.  In the early 1980's he suffered his first bout with cancer when he had a malignant tumor in his throat.  That bout changed his voice forever, and most of us remember the deep, raspy quality of his later years.  But it also made him alert to the joys of life.  In subsequent years he traveled extensively with his wife, Ellen.  After retiring he sailed with a group of friends, several from the Salem State community.  

Anyone hired before 2003 knew Mike and probably has a Michael Prochilo story to tell--from a dogfight in some long ago committee to lunching in the faculty dining room laughing along with him as he chortled infectiously at his own jokes.  

Michael Prochilo, honored colleague.  We miss you.