Andrew Joseph Fabian was born on 27 November 1926 in Mingo Junction, Ohio to Michael and Anna (Krizan) Fabian. He was the ninth of 12 children. All of his brothers and sisters except for one brother, Peter Fabian, and two sisters, Kathryn Taggart, and Margaret Everett preceded him in death.

His primary school education was at Saint Agnes Grammar School in Mingo Junction (1932-1941). He graduated from Central High School in 1945, and enrolled at Providence College in Providence, Rhode Island in 1947. He entered the Novitiate of the Province of Saint Albert the Great on 30 September 1949 at Saint Peter Martyr Priory in Winona, Minnesota, receiving the habit and given the religious name, Cyril, by Father Edward Hughes, O.P. Father Fabian's first vows were received on 26 May 1950 at the Dominican House of Studies at Saint Thomas Aquinas Priory in River Forest, Illinois by Father Timothy Sparks, O.P. He studied Philosophy in River Forest, Illinois (1950-1953), and Theology at Saint Rose Priory-Aquinas Institute in Dubuque, Iowa (1953- 1957) where he made his solemn vows to Fr. Emmanuel M. Suarez, O.P. Father Fabian was ordained 26 May 1956, at Saint Rose Priory in Dubuque by Archbishop Leo Binz.

Father Fabian's first assignment was teaching at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois from 1957 to 1962 in the Department of Theology. In 1962 he was assigned to Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa where he organized a program of instruction in Latin and taught Philosophy. In 1964 he was assigned to teach in the Philosophy Department at Saint Mary's College in Winona, Minnesota. Father Fabian became a beloved professor, mentor and friend at Saint Mary's. He taught Philosophy for almost fifty years there. Upon his retirement he was named LaSallian Scholar in Residence, a special honor for his many years of distinguished service and as well as continued service to the students.

Father Fabian was well known to many over the years at Saint Mary's. Two things that students always remembered about him was the fact that he knew the names of all his students on the first day of class and the second was the following saying: "Good, Better, Best. Never let it rest, until the good becomes better and the better becomes best. Why? Because the human mind and the human heart - not the physical heart, the will - were made for the best and they will never truly be at rest until they get the best. So hitch your wagon to a star. Or in other words, aim high because if you aim low, you just might end up below. And no one really wants to end up below the below."

Father Fabian was the recipient of several honors over his tenure at Saint Mary's University. He was awarded, the Brother Charles Severin Award for Excellence in Teaching, 1982; Letters of Affiliation by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, 17 December 2002; the John Lancaster Spalding Award, 20 November 2005; and the Presidential Award for Outstanding Merit by Saint Mary's University, 2011 given at the university's Centennial Celebration in Chicago.

Father Fabian's health began to decline which led to his retirement in 2013. Wanting to remain in Winona, he moved off campus to Calista Court, a senior assisted living facility in Winona. He lived there until his death on 14 July 2017. His Funeral Mass was celebrated at the Saint Thomas More Chapel at Saint Mary's University on 19 July 2017 and attended by many former students and current members of the Saint Mary's Community. The presider for the funeral Mass was The Most Rev. John M. Quinn, the Bishop of Winona and the principle concelebrant was The Most Rev. Bernard J. Harrington, Bishop Emeritus of Winona. Msgr. Gerald A. Mahon was the homilist. Several of the brothers from Father Fabian's house of assignment, Saint Albert the Great Priory in Minneapolis, Minnesota also attended and concelebrated. His body was brought to Chicago after the funeral Mass and was buried in the Dominican section at All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines, Illinois on 22 July 2017. Father James V. Marchionda, O.P. Prior Provincial, presided at the interment. Funeral arrangements were handled by Watkowski-Mulyck in Winona and Smith-Corcoran in Chicago.