MH17 tragedy: Albion Park school commemorates Michael and Carol Clancy
 |
| Carol and Michael Clancy |
It is a terrible thing when you go through your whole life, working hard, making a real difference to people around you, so that when you finally get to retire,and enjoy the serenity of life beyond the workplace, you have it ripped away from you, and in the most terrible fashion imaginable.
Michael Clancy was a wonderful teacher and deputy principal for Albion Park Public School, where he retired just at the end of last year. As parents of three kids at the school, his work was a standout.
When our eldest daughter Jessica came to the school, it was with a peanut allergy that we were still trying to find the best way to cope with. Michael's help in this regard, his immediate knowledge of the problem and recognition of it, was terrific. He knew Jessica from the first moment, and acknowledged her. He knew Helen straight away, and acknowledged her. Just the fact that he was right on top of this made our introduction to Albion Park Public School a much smoother and more pleasant experience than it could have been.
When our second daughter Madeleine came to the school, she often got upset when it was time for us to drop her off at school. On a couple of occasions, Michael came over as I tried to fix the situation and still get to work on time, and helped to not only calm her down, but get her into line with her classmates with a minimum of fuss. The kids respected and enjoyed him for his candor. In my experience and from what I saw, he never had to raise his voice to a child, and he never had children being rude or disrespectful to him. (Not to suggest it never happened... :) )
What an unimaginable end then to a life that had helped so many others. The absolute unfairness of it all, that this should happen. What is the balance in life if those that can perpetrate such a deed can go unpunished (as will in all likelihood occur), and those that have given their life to the teaching of our children, and their children, can have theirs taken when they deserved the reward of a happy retirement.
Our family is only one of the many that are devastated by this. It is a sad day for the Albion Park community, for which Michael had done so much for in his years at our school.
Vale Michael Clancy. A man who we will remember fondly, but who will always remain in the hearts of our children.
Vale Michael & Carol Clancy. Wonderful DP at A.P Public, on first holiday after retirement, murdered over Ukraine on #MH17. Tragic loss.
— Bill Peters (@westkiama) July 19, 2014
LISTEN: Kanahooka couple on board #MH17 couple remembered as loving and caring by longtime friend Jim Cooper http://t.co/civsmXTixG
— 97.3 ABC Illawarra (@973ABCIllawarra) July 18, 2014
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.