April 10, 2024
Dr. Michael Kolitsky '79
Submitted by Daniel Craviotto
I was a biology major and football player at Cal Lutheran. 2 months before graduation Dr. Kolitsky, a Biology Professor approached me and asked me what I was going to do after graduation. I told him I was thinking about being a high school Biology teacher and football coach. When I asked him why he said, “Well you do so well in these science classes I thought you might be interested in Medicine.” Within 2 weeks I switched my goal in life. After graduation I took some pre-med classes at UCSB and applied to medical school being accepted in 1981. I currently am an orthopedic surgeon in Santa Barbara, California. I am living out my dream because of him. A few years ago I realized I had never thanked Dr. Kolitsky for the profound impact he had as a mentor in my life. I found a contact email on the east coast and reached out to him thanking him for the incredible influence he had in my life. I told him I love what I do and it is all because of his encouraging remarks way back in 1979. His reply was this, “Dan, thank you so much. These days I sit around wondering if I made a difference. I can’t tell you how much your email meant to me.” Cal Lutheran was such an important God-led moment of time in my life. I was also fortunate to play football with my brother at Cal Lutheran and the bonds we developed amongst friends continue to this day. My brother John Craviotto (Class of 1980) died of brain cancer in January 2021. Our time together as Kingsmen and at Cal Lutheran was so special and memorable.
Stronger together!