Goodbye to a Friend.

                                                   Real Heroes never wear capes, RIP Michael

                                                                  1962 - 2025

Today, I received sad news that a school aquaintence, Michael Poore, passed away. It was sad sad news, and it set many of my school mates reflecting on the happy times each of us had with him.

I wasn't close to him, but I had heard many good things about him, especially his care and love for the disenfranchised youngsters at Northlight School. He was a teacher there for the last 15 years or so, and through my close friends, I heard how he had to relearn and review his outlook on his teaching methods, as his charges all had major issues. He had previously worked some 20 years in the Food and Entertainment industry so moving to teaching at 45 years of age, was a major shift, a paradigm shift in mindset.

The students have troubled backgrounds, many come from broken homes, abusive family environment, or have one or both parents in jail.  The students may also be involved in gang activities, take opiods and have run afoul of the law.   As they are juveniles, the system normally tries to reintegrate them into society and one of the institutions which is offered is this school, Northlight School.

Michael taught in this school and he posted on one of the school's websites the challenges he had as a teacher, a mentor, and also as a friend. I read and reread his Magnus Opus or life's story encapsulated in 5 pages. I was very touched. Police were almost always sent to the school for major disciplinary issues and external serious cases. The kids were not your traditional neighbourhood ones, nor even the usual bullies.  

Michael never gave up on them, and continued to motivate them, even as he sought to provide leadership and instill values to their broken young lives.  

My good friend Ajit told me, that Michael when they were both in Primary school, whenever Ajit forgot to bring his lunchbox or hadn't been given pocket money, Michael would generously share half his lunch sandwiches with Ajit.

This is the measure of a man. A measure of a man, is valued  not by what he created, an empire, a huge pile of money, many assets etc. 

A measure of a man, is how many lives he touched, helped and influenced for the better.

Rest in Peace, Michael Poore. 

A true hero.

A Saint whom I am proud to be associated with.

Carpe Diem.