6 minute read
In Memoriam: Tom Durkin
1951-2016
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- Tom durkin
Mr. Tom Durkin, faculty member and Director of the Media Focus Program from 1999-2007, passed away on October 26, 2016. He was a mentor and inspiring role model to many of his former students, and a beloved colleague. Below are a few of the comments that were either posted on the PHS Facebook page or sent via email that attest to the impact Mr. Durkin made in the lives of those who knew him.
“Tom Durkin was a gentleman and a scholar in every sense of those words. He was a trusted advisor, respected colleague, and loyal friend. I remember teaching vocabulary to my juniors and we always tried to give examples of people who could be described with the adjectives they had to learn. The students didn’t quite understand the word “magnanimous” until I told them that Mr. Durkin was the embodiment of its meaning: having a greatness and generosity of spirit, noble, big-hearted, and high-minded. They immediately got it.”
- Kerry mArtin, Phs deAn of studies
“Mr. Durkin was a beloved teacher, colleague, friend, and mentor to so many at Providence High School. Mr. Durkin left a legacy and inspired numerous students to pursue their dreams in the media industry. He taught with compassion and heart and he will always be remembered by the many students who were blessed to be in his class. May he rest in peace.”
- Allison defrAncesco cAstro ‘02, Phs PrinciPAl
“I am truly saddened by the news. Mr. Durkin was a wonderful and joyful man to be with. He is one of the few people who knew me after taking his English class during my Freshman year. Whenever I met him throughout my time in high school, he knew my name and always wondered how is everything going. ‘There’s Rod’ seemed to be his catchphrase for me. I respected and appreciated him for his dedication and time to his teachings. Rest In Peace, Mr. Durkin.”
- rode ArevAlo ‘06
“So sad to hear about this. He told me after he left PHS...”What I miss the most is the relationships I had with my students. That’s where the joy was derived. When students were able to achieve success it genuinely pleased me.” He was so helpful and thoughtful, he will be missed!”
- Jennifer neAl morse ‘03
“Mr. Durkin was a great man. I knew him since grade school and he always had time to spend with you when you needed him. The world lost an important source of inspiration and he will be truly missed. RIP my friend.”
- donAld miller ‘02
“One of the most influential teachers I ever had. Absolutely devastated by the news. Mr. Durkin lives on in each of his students.”
- ABigAil ronquillo ‘08
“I’ll never forget his last message to me before leaving PHS. He wrote, “Little Kobe, you’re always a champion.” (He gave me that nickname my freshman year). RIP to a legend.”
- mAriel villAlon ‘10
“Sometimes, it’s only when someone passes that you realize their effect on your life. Mr. Durkin was a wonderful teacher that saw the best in students. I vividly remember working on a project and trying to sort out tapes in classes. He looked at me and said, ‘You would make a great producer.’ Those words have always stuck with me. Mr. Durkin, you will be sadly missed.”
- tony leong ‘02
(Editor’s note: Tony is an Emmy award-winning television news producer at NBC Bay Area.)
“I never had a class that he taught, wasn’t in the program he helped make amazing at PHS, and yet he knew my name and said ‘hi’ to me every day. We had several conversations, and they were always inspiring. He had such an amazing way of inspiring with his words. The world lost a great one today. Rest In Peace.” “Mr. Durkin did not know me when I first started teaching in 2006, however he was good friends with Mr. Talley. We rarely spoke to each other that year except for the usual pleasantries. There was one exception, after the Senior Luncheon when the yearbooks were passed out to everyone, I went back to my bungalow, which at that time had all the lunch tables and basketball hoops in front of it. I was on the landing watching the students, and he came strolling across this large expanse, past all the students calling out his name, with a look of determination on his face I had never seen before this. The yearbook was confidently tucked under his arm and he walked up to me and said, “Thank you for this yearbook, this is the best retirement gift anyone could have given me.” I was stunned, it was my first year tackling the yearbook, and at that, he turned and walked away. I have never forgotten him or that comment and the impact it made on my career.”
- celeste tAlley, Phs fAculty
“Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid.” - Quote submitted by tommy Boucher ‘04
“Tom and I shared a love of old movies, good cigars, Rye Whiskey and chili dogs. Many times on retreats Tom and I would slip away and enjoy a Romeo y Julieta Numero 4 and recall old movies and directors. Then too, if I had a nickel for every chili dog we banged down over at Der Wienerschnitzel I could be driving a Beemer. He was a good man who will be missed.”
- reece tAllley, Phs fAculty
“As counterparts of the focus programs at PHS in the 90s, Tom and I developed a unique respect and admiration for each other in our common commitment to our students and plans on how to get them to reach their fullest potential. One project in particular that is rooted in my memory bank involved students and the two us starring in a focus program promotional video (that Tom was writing, producing, and directing) that showed how the two programs have developed a “healthy rivalry”- running into each other as “gangs” in the 200s hallway, giving and getting icy stares, and showing off our “artillery” (stethoscopes representing Med Focus and tripods for the Cinema Arts/ Media Focus) before breaking out into a happy song and dance about “PHS being the happiest place to be…” At other times, we ate lunch together, met after school and on weekends to continue our discussions that involved student work and life as we lived it. It was a great camaraderie that I treasured through all the years even after Tom left California and headed back home to Missouri. We always remained in touch right up till the time when Tom knew that the end was near and it became an uphill battle for him to sustain even a brief phone conversation. He lives in my heart as much as he did while on earth and we still communicate even though he resides peacefully in the heavens above.”
- Dr. ArJAn hArJAni, Phs fAculty
