Hastings Boys’ High School principal Rob Sturch dies

Longstanding Hastings Boys’ High School principal Rob Sturch has died after a private battle with throat cancer.

Board of Trustees chairman George Massingham said Sturch, who was headmaster of the school for 21 years, had remained the leader, boss, peer and friend he had always been, right up until his death this week.

“The family have asked for the funeral to be held here, the place he loved at Hastings Boys’ High School and we will pass on all arrangements when they are finalised,” Massingham said.

“On behalf of the current and previous students, teachers, parents, Board of Trustees members and everyone else who know Rob I want to take this opportunity to pass on our aroha, our admiration and love to [his whānau] at this incredibly sad time.”

Rob Sturch was headmaster of Hastings Boys’ High School for 21 years. Photo / Duncan Brown

Massingham said the school and Ministry of Education would provide support to the students and the staff.

“I ask that we as a Hastings Boys’ High School community look out for each other and make Rob proud.”

Sturch came to Hastings BHS from the position of deputy principal at Kelston Boys’ High School in Auckland in the third term of 2002, succeeding 1984-2002 principal Graham Thomas.

He had been at Kelston for almost 20 years, appointed in 1982, about the same time as eventual All Blacks coach Sir Graham Henry.

The pair worked together in Kelston’s physical education department which Sir Graham headed, and Sturch coached and managed in several sports, including rugby, basketball, volleyball and athletics.

It was an era where Kelston claimed all four of its national first XV titles (a title which Sturch also saw come to Hastings BHS twice), and where a team he was in charge of claimed Kelston’s first and only premier national schools basketball title.

The Auckland school also recognised his passing with a Facebook post, which said: “His contributions to many aspects of school life over the years was immense. He performed to the highest level in all of those activities and provided leadership across a wide range of groups.”

He played rugby during the era for Auckland club Teachers.

Having grown up in the suburbs of West Auckland, where he went to Henderson High School, some may have seen it as a surprise that he didn’t return to the Auckland area to teach later in his career, but 1997-2015 Napier BHS principal Ross Brown said: “I think Hawke’s Bay and Hastings got a grip on him as much as he got a grip on Hastings. He was a lively character.

“He was totally committed to boys’ education, he surrounded himself with good people, he knew how to make the boys comfortable – and when they’re comfortable they come to school,” Brown said.

“He was very comfortable with the communities in the school,” he added.

One sign was the introduction of the lavalava to the male school uniform in 2017, the year the school also established its Old Boys’ Association and launched a Hall of Fame to recognise the achievements of former pupils.

His interest in making sport available and accessible to all students was his membership as a regional representative on the board of School Sport NZ.

Sir Graham Henry, who was guest speaker at a Hastings BHS Old Boys’ function in 2018, said Sturch had been a “fantastic teacher.

“He was very dedicated,” he said. “He’s done a remarkably good job at Hastings, from all accounts. He loved his school.”

Former pupils of the school he departed 21 years ago also posted tributes to the “good bugger” they remembered.