Aquinas College mourns passing of 'great man'

Father Mark Field.

Catholic leaders in Tauranga yesterday fondly remembered the influence Aquinas College foundation principal Brendan Schollum had on their lives.

St Mary Immaculate parish priest Father Mark Field's first encounter with Mr Schollum was as a training college lecturer in 1981.

He later worked under Mr Schollum at Sacred Heart College in Auckland and later Aquinas College.

Mr Field (pictured) said "great" was the best word to sum up the man.

"He said that a lot. Everything was great," he said.

"Brendan was a man of great integrity. He was a man of great faith - very committed to whatever task he was involved in.

"He was a great educationalist and had a great enthusiasm for life."

His sickness and sudden death had left a mark on many, Mr Field said.

"It was a shock, especially so soon after his wife's death.

Mr Field planned to attend his funeral in Auckland on Wednesday and said it was a "great honour" to be taking the memorial mass at Aquinas College on Thursday.

St Mary's Catholic School principal Ben Fuller had known Mr Schollum since 2003 when he was selected as a foundation staff member at Aquinas College where he taught for four years.

"It's tragic. He was an amazing man, an amazing mentor and just one of those guys who just continued giving," he said.

Brendan Schollum

• More than 40 years working in education
• Principal of Sacred Heart College in Auckland for eight years
• Foundation principal of Aquinas College from 2003 to February 2010
• Became an adviser to upskill Qatar's 67 secondary principals on aspects of effective principalship