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.