When asked about Tom Browne, principal at Parkland Secondary School in North Saanich from 1980-1998, longtime teachers Tara Beaucamp, Mickey Fitzgerald and Jose Tudella didnB次元官网网址檛 skip a beat in describing him as a B次元官网网址渢rue gentleman,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址渉onest,B次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址減rofessional.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭om was like a dad to me because I was so young when I was hired,B次元官网网址� said Beaucamp. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e never had a principal like him. Ever again. Not even close.B次元官网网址�

Browne, who , was a huge influence for these veteran teachers, who are also still mourning the loss of their former colleague .

Beaucamp was hired by Browne directly out of university and she remembered his love of sport.

B次元官网网址淚 remember having 7 a.m. practices in the morning and he would come in early and sit and watch my practices and whenever the girls played in a different school he would be there. I remember one time the kids were saying B次元官网网址榦h, they wanted to put things up in the change room and make it their locker roomB次元官网网址� and the next day he went out and bought us paint so that we could paint the change room and make it our own.B次元官网网址�

Athletics were a huge part of BrowneB次元官网网址檚 life. Born in Ireland, Tom Browne was a national-level rugby player before becoming an educator. He was a coach with the Castaway Wanderers Rugby Club, where his nickname was B次元官网网址淭he BulletB次元官网网址� for his speed.

Browne continued to support Parkland long after his retirement, showing up until this May for grad transitions, where graduating students are interviewed by community members about their school experience and their goals after graduation. Since Browne retired before current Parkland students were even born, Beaucamp said that B次元官网网址渢hose kids would just think of him as another person from the community, probably not really understanding his impact here.B次元官网网址�

He came to the showcases to promote the school B次元官网网址渁nd he came to every single one.B次元官网网址�

Browne was also very supportive of teachers in their personal lives, even visiting a teacher in the delivery room.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a picture of him and [vice-principal Joe Milligan] with Marg Metcalfe when she was in the hospital giving birth to her first child. ThatB次元官网网址檚 how caring they were,B次元官网网址� said Tudella.

Milligan is out of town and could not be interviewed but in an email said that Browne B次元官网网址渨as very popular in his community.B次元官网网址�

Greg Bunyan, who succeeded Browne as principal, also worked with him as a vice-principal from 1980-1986, and called Browne a B次元官网网址渕ajor mentorB次元官网网址� of his career.

B次元官网网址淭om was perhaps one of the most ethical and caring people that you would find. He was always concerned about everyone. Students, staff, parents, everybody that he worked with,B次元官网网址� said Bunyan.

FitzgeraldB次元官网网址檚 last meeting with Browne was in June. They went to Urban Cup on Shelbourne St. in Victoria.

B次元官网网址淗e knows I taught history so he brought a book on the Leechtown gold rush. B次元官网网址楳ick I think you could use this in your classroom. Here.B次元官网网址� This is June and he brought stuff to help me out. I was going to give it back last week.B次元官网网址�

A memorial for Browne will be held at the University Club of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Rd., on Oct. 7 at 2 p.m.