In Memory

Dane Hawkins

Dane was a geography teacher at Glenforest.



 
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05/15/09 04:47 PM #1    

Kathy Murphy (Harding) (1978)

When I was in Grade 12, Mr. Hawkins asked me to be his "secretary" for parent teacher interview night. It meant I had to sit outside the classroom and check off the names when the parents came in. He invited me to his house for dinner after school on the interview night and his wife prepared an amazing lasagna dinner. I will never forget him as a teacher, but especially how much he made us feel like adults and he made us feel special.

05/21/09 12:35 PM #2    

Stephen Cliffe (1983)

Mr. Hawkins got me onto the football field and helped bring me into focus as both a student and a person. He was an educator, not just someone who went to teachers college. As someone who later became a teacher themselves, I can say his example comes to my mind more than many times as I see people in this profession who lack his integrity and passion.

05/28/09 09:18 PM #3    

Donna Stoute (Bell) (1982)

Mr. Hawkins was not only a great teacher, swimming coach and mentor, but he was also a great friend. He spoke highly of his family, especially his two children. We had many laughs at school and after school, encouraging us to do our best and have fun at the same time. He helped me get through Evenlyn's death, not realizing his time with us would be shortened as well. Will miss seeing him at the reunion.

12/08/13 01:17 AM #4    

Arthur Dias (1984)

I can count on one hand the number of people who have had a profound and positive influence on my life. Mr. Hawkins is right up there as one of the greats. He was my swim couch for three years before he moved on to Cawthra Park S.S. He pushed us to become better than we ever thought we could ever be. In one season he took us from 13th place in Peel to number one! But he led by example. He never asked us to do anything he would not do himself. Quite often during practice he would dive into the pool in the lane beside you and challenge you to the other end. 

When my sister passed away while I was still at Glenforest he was the first person I went to see at the school. I had to tell him I would not compete in the Peel/Halton championship meet the next day. Saddly the last time I saw him he was marching across the meeting place in the morning at Erindale campus U of T headed for the coffee shop. I spotted him and got up and confronted him In the lineup and he was so happy to see me. He told me he was taking part-time courses to upgrade his degree to a Masters. Within less then 6 months he was gone. I mourned his loss for years. 


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