A much-loved teacher who died unexpectedly at home has been remembered by current and former students for his “cool police stories” and “great sense of humour”.
Emergency services were called to the Christchurch home of former Australian police officer Jarrod O’Sullivan, 51, on Saturday. It is believed he died in his sleep several days earlier.
O’Sullivan had taught mathematics and information and communications technology at Shirley Boys’ High School since 2009. The school community gathered on Tuesday to support each other and share the impact O’Sullivan had on their lives.
Joel Macfarlane was in O’Sullivan’s form class for three-and-a-half years before starting a carpentry course at Ara Institute of Canterbury.
“I was quite close to him before I left school. He was nice, and funny as well – really caring as a teacher,” he said.
Macfarlane said O’Sullivan always supported him and had pushed him to apply to become a junior prefect in his first year at school when he lacked the confidence.
“He encouraged me to get over my fear of crowds, and he’d always pull me aside to see how I was doing.
“We had some fun times in his form class, and he made my time at school a little better.”
Year 11 student Kururangi Weteini was also in O’Sullivan’s form class and said he had a “really high” standard for his students.
“He’d give you lines for yawning in class without covering your mouth. He greatly valued manners, but also human kindness.”
Weteini said O’Sullivan took the time to get to know each of his students.
“In terms of careers and picking future paths, he supported everyone … He was always there with some advice about what you could do to get there.”
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