Frank Douglas – 1938 – 2008
Frank Douglas taught languages at the school for 35 years from 1968 until his retirement in 2003. He passed away on Monday 21 April 2008 at the age of 69, after suffering a heart attack the previous Sunday.
Those who were fortunate to be taught by Mr Douglas will remember his caring and generous nature and love of languages. He taught largely French and Latin, in addition to German and Japanese over the years. He was also qualified to teach history.
Frank also took the whole school for massed singing; no easy task, but he won the students over with his enthusiasm, his own pleasant singing voice and his choice of songs.
In the sporting field, he was associated particularly with soccer. He coached the First XI to victory in the Auckland competition in 1971 and was later the teacher-in-charge of this sport. At the time of his retirement, he was the teacher-in-charge of cricket.
Frank also took the whole school for massed singing; no easy task, but he won the students over with his enthusiasm, his own pleasant singing voice and his choice of songs.
In the sporting field, he was associated particularly with soccer. He coached the First XI to victory in the Auckland competition in 1971 and was later the teacher-in-charge of this sport. At the time of his retirement, he was the teacher-in-charge of cricket.
He also served as a guidance counsellor and dean at various levels and was awarded
the Woolf Fisher Plate for his services to the school.
Frank was also well-known in the Mount Albert community, especially amongst his fellow parishioners at St Mary’s Catholic Church where he worked tirelessly with the Christmas and Easter choirs and for the Legion of Mary. In fact it was at church on Sunday that he collapsed as he was encouraging others to help with the work of the church by joining the Legion.
Headmasters Hall, Taylor and Burden and many of his colleagues over the years attended his funeral on Thursday 24 April.