On July 20th, 2025, a Fort Hamilton High School teacher passed away. Robert Randazzo was a beloved teacher here at Fort. In his short time as the head teacher of the drama department, he made an impact on the lives of students and faculty around him. By spreading his joy and passion for theater, he became a mentor for many.
Mr. Randazzo directed two shows here at Fort: the fall play, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare- Abridged- Revised, and the spring musical, Little Shop of Horrors. His spirit and attitude were always high, and the energy he brought to the classroom inspired all his students to express themselves in the most creative ways possible.
“He always tried to make us feel comfortable,” said Fort junior, Giada Reda. “No matter if it was hard to get kids to pay attention or listen, he never stopped trying.”
Mr. Randazzo quickly made the drama department at Fort his own, even allowing students to stay and help out during lunch periods and after school. His constant effort to build a community for his students never went unnoticed. He was resilient in getting people to work with one another both in and out of school. His compassion and ability to never have a student feel left out was what made him a role model of a teacher.
“He always made sure our voices were heard no matter what opinions or feelings we had,” said Fort senior Mackenzie Nastro. “He made sure we had the opportunity to voice them.”
Ever the optimist, Mr. Randazzo loved to say he could make lemons into lemonade. He loved a challenge and was never afraid to be honest with his students. His loyalty was one of the most beloved qualities as well as his ability to laugh at all of our jokes.
Fort Hamilton mourned the loss of Mr. Randazzo deeply. His kind spirit, uplifting attitude, and ability to always have a sense of humor about things, being just some of the many beautiful qualities we will remember most about him. Mr. Randazzo left quite a mark on this school, even in his short time here, his work and dedication as a teacher are what made him special and what allows all of us to look back on the time spent with him with fondness.
“Mr. Randazzo was such a kind soul,” said Fort senior Laziza Ismatullayeva. “He had such a creative mind when it came to his productions. I feel honored to have gotten to know him.”
