As a teacher at St Edward's School, Kelligrews, I dearly loved all my students over the years but one kid , in particular, won my heart and that was our beloved John; he was in my grade seven class and as an athlete myself, we just hit it off; I helped him get into refereeing and we worked on studying for his referee's exam; John was my 'sidekick' while at the school! When the two tv/vcrs at school we're booked by other teachers, John and I would drive to his house at lunchtime, disconnect his tv/vcr in his bedroom, bring it to our science lab ( I was the keeper of the lab given that I taught all jr high sciences), set it up for a Friday afternoon viewing of a Jacques Cousteau/ National Geographic film while my students enjoyed their treats! After the school busses left the schoolyard , John and I ( unbeknownst to my colleagues) placed his tv/vcr back into my vehicle for a ride back to John's house to set back up in his bedroom! We did that a number of times! I'm not sure if John's family was aware that we pulled off that stunt! Maybe it was our secret but the cat's out of the bag now! Needless to say, we had great times at school and wonderful nostalgic memories! Years later, on May 29, 1992, at Memorial Stadium during the seventh game of the Calder Cup finals , John and I encountered one another during the first period intermission; I could tell he was so happy to see me and he brought tears to my eyes when he told me that I had a significant influence on him , growing up, and that the person he had become was directly attributable to me being a father figure to him at St Edward's!( He shed a tear as well!) Oh my, that's the personal satisfaction I got out of my role as a teacher, working with impressionable minds , helping kids be the best they can be! So to say I'm SAD, is an understatement! The contents of his obituary helps to greatly ease the pain of his passing; in hindsight, I may have learned as much from John as he learned from me! Hmm! His memory lives on and as a teacher, I was inspired by John to continue working with my future students in the manner I worked with John! See you on the other side, buddy!
