The Candor

Issue date: 5/4/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Fadi Shihadeh Komechak spends time with the Abbey dog, Benny.

Media Credit: Fadi Shihadeh In the Abbey, Father Michael Komechak hangs a sketching of old Ben Hall by Professor Bill Scarlato. Komechak has been the art curator at BU for many years.

For over 60 sixty years, Father Michael Komechak has been involved in the Benedictine community. His contributions can be seen spread across the campus. Komechak has recently been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, but that has not stopped him from still doing what he loves.

Komechak received his first glimpse of St. Procopious Academy at 14 when came to visit his uncle who was the superintendent at former St. Joseph Orphanage.

"I felt God was directing me to this place," said Komechak. Over time, the orphanage has become Benet Academy and the academy turned into the current Benedictine University. "I just thought this was paradise: the open fields and everything was so wonderful," said Komechak.

Komechak has dedicated his time at BU to organizing the extensive art collection and designing campus buildings, including layout for the Rice Center.

In 1965, Komechak was asked to help design the abbey. It became "the most celebrated building in terms of awards," he said. The building won both an award in 1973 and a 25 year award for best desgined building in 1993 from the American Institute of Architects.

Komechak hopes to write a book about the architect of the Abbey, Edward Dart, who became a close friend to him. Dart passed away shortly after the Abbey was fully completed, and before his final project, Chicago's Water Tower, was finished.

Komechak's love for art gave him the chance to serve as a judge for art fairs and become the abbey photographer. His passion also led himto begin a formal art program at the college. In 1978, drawing, design and painting were offered at Ilinois Benedictine College.

During this time, Komechek decided to artistically beautify the school. "I wanted to enhance the school with art," he said. There was no budget at the time, so all the art was donated. The Amoco Corporation gave 400 pieces to begin the collection, which now numbers in the thousands. All the paintings, sketchings and drawings have been catalogued so that Komechak's successor will know where all the artwork is located.

In addition to organizing the art, Komechak has begun to make plans for the future. He said doctors told him he has only several months to live. Knowing approximately how much longer he will be here is giving him time for closure.

"I'm doing the same thing as I did, but I'm being more conscious of what I'm doing," he said. "I'm taking each day as it comes."

Despite the unfortunate circumstances, Komechak remains in good spirits.

"The primary attitude I have is gratitude because I have been instrumental in so many events that I've been involved in," said Komechak.

Komechak hopes to see the school grow more during the next few months and hopes students will become just as active as him in life. "I very strongly believe that we're here to make a difference. We need men and women dedicated to the common good."

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