Lorne Schemmer

Lorne Schemmer was born in Regina Saskatchewan on June 20 1936, the middle of three children. He went to work at an early age to help his family survive the hardships of World War II's aftermath. Always a good student, he became the first in his family to go to university, earning a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Saskatchewan and a Master of Education degree from the University of Oregon.

During his thirty years in high schools, he taught in Regina; on Canadian National Defense bases at Soest and Zweibrücken Germany; and at Hamilton, Windsor, and Handsworth Secondary Schools in North Vancouver. Then he became principal, in turn, of North Vancouver Secondary, Seycove Secondary, and Sutherland Secondary.

Lorne knew that teenagers were often capable of more than they imagined. He loved helping them recognize their abilities and realize their potential. He was particularly proud of his work at Seycove, where he helped establish a new school and integrate it with other community services.

At university, Lorne took part in many extra-curricular activities Ä especially sports, in which he enjoyed the camaraderie on the field and in the stands. When he gave up team sports, he continued to walk, jog, and ski. He nearly lost his life in a ski accident in 1974, but was back on his skis the next season, wearing a motorcycle helmet Ä about two decades before helmets were made specifically for boarders and skiers. After he retired, he worked as head of the volunteer guides at Blackcomb Ski Resort, earning the nickname "Slope Watch God" from Japanese visitors.

Lorne loved talking to people and hearing about their lives. An avid traveller, he visited every continent: most memorably, the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War in the 1960's, China in 1989 and 2009, and Antarctica as part of a cruise. For his 80th birthday, he revisited his former homes in Germany.

Lorne died August 1 2021, having celebrated his 85th birthday with his whole family just six weeks before.