Obituary: Former Rotorua Intermediate School principal Jack Hourigan dies

Jack Hourigan was a champion of children who made sure they reached their potential. Photo / Supplied 250319xx1

Thousands of children have reached their potential thanks to more than five decades of effort in the education sector by "champion of children" Jack Hourigan.

The education stalwart, who was Rotorua Intermediate School principal for 12 years, died on March 16 following a short illness. He was farewelled at his funeral on Friday in Whakatāne. He was 75.

Hourigan had a commitment to leave schools in a better place and his wife, Heather, told the Rotorua Daily Post it was always his goal to see children do their best.

"He had a passion for children and he never lost sight of that. It was always number one in his mind and he was totally a champion of children reaching their potential."

The couple would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in May next year.

The pair met at Rotorua Intermediate School where she was working as a dental nurse. They went on to have four children.

"He was a wonderful father to our children. He was always there for them and was loving and trustworthy."

In recent years he had become a doting grandfather to his three grandchildren, earning the nickname "Cracker Jack".

Hourigan started his teaching career in 1963 in Murupara and moved around much of the country throughout the years including stints in Gisborne, Te Teko, Auckland and Rotorua - where he taught at Rotorua Intermediate and Selwyn Primary School before returning as Rotorua Intermediate principal between 1991 and 2003.

Jack Hourigan when he retired from Rotorua Intermediate School as principal in 2003. Photo / File

After retiring as principal, the family moved to Whakatāne where he continued to work for the Ministry of Education in different troubleshooting roles as a commissioner and limited statutory manager.

He only officially retired last year.

In his eulogy, colleague Tony Pope from Rotorua said he was on Hourigan's staff in the 1980s.

He said he farewelled him from Selwyn School in 1991 and from Rotorua Intermediate in 2003.

"Now 28 years later, I have the sad privilege of farewelling Jack from his life as we know it.

"Jack was a great believer in decision making by consensus - as a staff we were encouraged to speak our minds and have an input into decisions that impacted upon our teaching and students' learning."

The eulogy highlighted his ability to defuse tricky situations, take on changes in the education system and adopt new ideas.

"On behalf of the teaching profession, may I acknowledge Jack's work over the decades, his gentlemanly manner, his focus on student well being and safety and his commitment to leave schools in a better place."

Jack Hourigan while principal at Rotorua Intermediate School in 2001. Photo / File

Former student singer and writer Lizzie Marvelly described her former principal at Rotorua Intermediate School between 2001 and 2002 as a "wonderful man".

"He was a kind, fair and supportive headmaster who always had a smile for his students. I remember him very fondly, as he was at every school production, speech competition, talent quest… you name it."

Marvelly said they had quite a few chats particularly in her second year at the school when she was the head of the student council.

"I have a particularly special memory of dancing with him at the form 2 social. We had all spent months learning some basic ballroom dances and Mr Hourigan was an accomplished dancer. I remember him dancing along with us as we celebrated the end of our intermediate schooling.

"I am very sad to hear of his passing, and send my love and condolences to his family. He was one of my favourite teachers, and I know that I'll be just one of many students whose lives he impacted for the better."