Alumni & Friends R.I.P.
Alumni & Friends R.I.P.
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A list of Patricians (Jan 2024 to the present) who are no longer with us can be found by clicking this link.
Notices or short paragraphs describing the lives of Patricians who have passed away prior to 2023 can be found on a 'sub page' of this section (see menu above or click here).
Tony Gaynor has maintained a much longer list of Patricians (from 1981 to 2018) who are now resting in peace.
This page gives notice of Patricians who passed away in 2025. Previous years can be found by clicking the following links: RIP 2024, RIP 2023, Earlier Years.
Philip WHITE (64-68)
A sad coincidence occurred in the first week of October, 2025. As recorded below, Chris Power left us, and then the very next day, Phil White (64-68) also passed away (8 October 2025). The coincidence being that they were also in the same class (Sub Inter) in 1968 and went to Xavier in 1969 after St Pat's closure.
Among other life interests, Phil was actively involved in the Association formed from the 57th/60th Battalion. It is presumed that his father was enlisted in one or other of those units during WW2 and Phil eventually became a member of the group for long enough to become an 'Esteemed Life Member', Vice President and Facebook Coordinator, as noted in the tribute written about him by that organization in The Age.
Chris POWER (64-68)
Chris was one of the last Patricians to walk out the school gate into Lansdowne St in November 1968 ... and now he has moved on a bit further, after a stoic battle with cancer over the last three years or so.
Earlier this year at the Glenferrie Hotel gathering, we were pleased to see all four of the 'Power boys' (Bernie, Richard, Chris and Tony) enjoying the social atmosphere ... a website photo records the occasion.
In early October (2025), Chris had been on a trip around Western Victoria with his wife, Anne Marie, and friends. On his return, he had planned to join the regular SPOCA golfers at Kew GC at the end of the month for the annual golf day involving about 15 or so Patricians. Unfortunately, on 7 October 2025 other matters suddenly and unexpectedly intervened, and so we recall Chris as another of our well-loved class mates who lives on in our memories.
Our sympathies are extended to Anne Marie and the wider Power family.
RIP Chris
[See further comments from compatriots on the Patricians Recently page]
Max NANKERVIS (59-62)
Max passed away on Friday 12 September 2025 (the same day as Tom Hawkins, recorded elsewhere on this page). He was involved in a range of pursuits at school in addition to his academic achievements. Membership of the Sodality of Our Lady, one of the elite group of singers called upon when a ‘sung Mass’ was required, a regular in the Second XVIII team, and winner of the 55 yds swimming event in the Open age group (in front of the likes of Bernie Power and John Leeds!) are just some of Max’s highlights in his time at St Pat’s.
After school he completed a Bachelor of Arts degree and followed a career in Town Planning, Local History, and Architecture. He made many contributions on a range of topics connected with those areas, one notable one being his article which made up the contents of the Autumn edition of Heritage Australia in 1992. That essay was entitled “An Incongruous Tower” and related many historical aspects not only concerning The Tower but also the school more generally, particularly in relation to design features.
RIP Max
Max at the 55th Anniversary of College Closure
Thomas HAWKINS (40-46)
Tom died on Friday 12 September 2025 (the same day as Max Nankervis, recorded elsewhere on this page). At 96, Tom was the oldest of the many ‘fairly old’ Patricians at the time of his passing – others will now have to carry the torch (no names mentioned!). Faithful to the end (and in the middle, as his second name was Fidelis!), in his last days he reminded his son (Tom, jnr) to inform SPOCA of the sad news.
At school he was keen on athletics, not only competing in events but also being a member of the organizing committee. Debating was another of his interests. At the right is an extract from the 1948 Patrician yearbook which illustrates the breadth of the Hawkins footprint at St Pat's!
RIP Tom
Tom as a cadet!
Paul Costigan (50-58)
Paul passed away in Darwin on 26 June 2025.
After leaving St Pat's, Paul entered Corpus Christi seminary and was ordained in 1966. However, he resigned after a few years and later married Patty Ring. They worked in various hospitality venues, hotels and motels even spending some years in the United Kingdom. They eventually moved to Darwin where the remained. Some further details about Paul are included in Martin Tobin's outline of the Costigan, Sullivan and Tobin inter-connected families elsewhere on this website (see page 14, here). Paul's wake was announced to one and all in the notice shown at right ...
RIP Paul
Tim Walsh (54-62)
Tim passed away on June 20, 2025. Although Tim’s name has been on Patrician lists for many years, unfortunately we haven’t had a recent contact point for him. Nevertheless the grapevine has brought his name to our attention.
He began at St Patrick’s in 1954 as a Grade 4 student. One of his first involvements in non-academic pursuits was as a member of the cast in the presentation of The Toymaker’s Dream, taking the role of the Fife Player!
In later years he was active in the Debating Society and football. So somewhat of an all-rounder! By the time he was in Leaving he was a member of the Second XVIII, as the photo from the 1962 Patrician magazine shows.
With no up-to-date contact, we aren’t able to give any details of Tim’s later life. Perhaps a compatriot of his might contact SPOCA via email or other means to add some colour to the Tim Walsh story.
RIP Tim.
Richard Grant (52-60)
Richard passed away on 1 April 2025. He was on the SPOCA committee during the latter years of the College and was Treasurer in 1968. So much has been written about his life after St Pat's (and some during his time there) that little can be added here (see parts of the obituaries from his funeral service here).
RIP Richard
Laurie McGuane (61-65)
Laurie began at St Pat's in Grade 5 and continued until he completed Sub Inter. Not much is known about Laurie after that but he had been living in Hervey Bay in Qld for some time and had lost touch with his earlier classmates. He passed away in late March or early April (exact date and other details are not known).
RIP Laurie
John Henderson (1944)
John was born on 26 August 1932. He attended St Pat’s for a year, which he spent in the Second Year class while staying with his grandmother (the family lived in Tamworth), flying back and forth to family on his own as a young lad. In his early years he learned piano and continued to priactice it while with his grandmother. He went on to be an excellent pianist, mostly enjoying playing classical music. After the year at St Pat’s he spent the rest of his secondary education,still taught by Jesuits, as a boarder at Riverview, Sydney.
His family moved to Geelong in 1947. After leaving school John began medical studies at the Melbourne Uni. He married Pam in the early 70s and he began his work as a GP in Geelong. and they had four children.
He was a well-loved and widely known man in Geelong and had wide interests. Perhaps his main one was photography – at his funeral his wife said the he was rarely without a still camera in one hand and a movie camera in the other.
His love of vintage cars was also high on his list of interests. His other favourite method of transport was flying. Not far behind those was a glass of wine (but not at the same time!).
Much of his life was re-told by family members at his funeral, which is worth watching online. He passed away on 5 March 2025.
RIP John.
Peter Carrucan Rev. Fr. (44-47)
Peter passed away on 27 February 2025. He enrolled at St Pat’s in 1944 in Second Year and stayed for four years. In those early days he was an outstanding sportsman on many fields. From the start, he was noticeable in the athletics track, the cricket pitch and the football oval.
During his second year at Intermediate (1947) he played in the very successful First VIII team which scored wins against teams like Ivanhoe Grammar, St Bede’s and CBC St Kilda. His team mates included current Old Patricians Paul Noone and Brian Fleiter who were all mentioned regularly among the best players.
At cricket , he was very handy, whether it was with the keepers gloves on or opening the batting.
And in his second last year he was athletics champion in his age group: he won the 100 & 200 yard sprints and the high jump.
After leaving school he worked in the Taxation Department for a number of years, then began preparing for the priesthood at Corpus Christi College in 1955. He was ordained in July 1962. He was appointed to various parishes during the 60s and early 70s, and then Parish Priest at Hadfield in 1975. By the early 1980s he was in the far eastern suburb of Belgrave and his leadership was called on to assist residents of the area to survive the Ash Wednesday bushfires. His years before retirement were spent at St Albans where he spent much time helping at the local hospital and the wider community. after retirement from parish duties he became very involved in supporting refugees and asylum seekers.
A longer story about Peter's life and calling can be read here.
Two quotes from Peter give an insight into the man:
"A priest is not there just for the good people but for people furthest from the church".
Even in retirement, Peter was always ready to respond to those who might be in prison, immigration detention, hospital or in trouble. At the age of 92 he was still saying mass in prison where the men were always impressed by his sincerity and unusual ability to communicate at their level.
"I never regretted becoming a priest but I regretted not being a better priest".
All who knew Peter would agree this humble statement was a significant underestimation of the good work he did for people in need, and for all his long life.
There are thousands of people throughout the parishes of Melbourne who have benefitted from his guidance and leadership. Peter was finally called to a higher place on 27 February 2025 at the age of 93.
He was a good priest and man.
There are thousands of people throughout the parishes of Melbourne who have benefited from his guidance and leadership. Peter was finally called to a higher place in February 2025 at the age of 93.
RIP Peter.
David BULLARD OAM ED RFD LLB (48-50)
David passed away on 15 February 2025. He attended St Pat’s for the last three years of his schooling, although his Matric year was unfortunately interrupted due to a car accident involving five teachers. They suffered various injuries and were unable to continue their teaching for some weeks. Accordingly, David and many classmates were temporarily re-located to Xavier for a time. All were back at St Pat’s by the beginning of term 2.
After school, he completed a Law degree and became part of a successful legal practice, most recently having an office in the city. Simultaneously, and for many years, he was also a member of the Australian Army Reserve (originally enlisting as a member of the CMF), achieving the rank of Lt Colonel and becoming CO of the Melbourne University Regiment in 2005. His interest in the Army probably developed from his membership of the Cadets at school, having reached the rank of Sgt and performing more than creditably on the rifle range. His long service resulted in his awards of the Efficiency Decoration and the Reserve Force Decoration.
Not satisfied with having military activities occupy his time outside his main profession, David was also a founding and long-time (45 years) member of the Odyssey House Board. That wasn’t the limit of his community involvement as he was also on the board of the RACV, holding the office of President from 2002 to 2004.
He died peacefully on 15 February 2025 in his 92nd year.
RIP David
Brian SHERMAN (56-62)
Brian died on 13 January 2025. He began at St Pat’s in 1956 as a First Year student. From the start he made his mark as a student with wide-ranging abilities. His French and Latin were better than others in his class, and he also showed some early skills in arithmetic and algebra, the latter two areas providing an early pointer to his eventual career. However he also featured on the sporting field with his cricket skills, particularly in bowling. Classmates whose names will be familiar to others include Denis Hitchens, Terry Mulgrew, Peter King, John Leeds, and many others. The emphasis there is on the ‘many’ as his class list comprised 56 names – were there classrooms that could accommodate such a number?
Whatever the conditions and companionship, they evidently suited Brian as, by his last year in 1962, he was dux of the school. By then, his colleagues also included Peter Gaffney, Michael Dolan, Gerry Healy, Anton Orbe, Max Nankervis, Bernie Power among many other well-known names.
Another of his other interests was debating. During 1962, his team were one of a number who represented their schools on a Channel 7 program called ‘Parliament of Youth’. The question his team had to defend was ‘Has our Present-day Democracy Failed?’ – the question is still pertinent.
Subsequent to his secondary schooling, Brian studied at the University of Melbourne where he gained qualifications in Mathematics and eventually took up a position at the University of Adelaide where his career spanned the next 50 or so years.
One of his achievements (and one which will stand the test of time) was his discovery of a fourth side of a triangle. The issue is an obtuse one for more than the obvious reasons but those with an interest in the area can read his 1993 manuscript here. While he modestly referred to ‘the fourth line of a triangle’ his academic colleagues thought more of his contribution and have allowed eponymy to give his work a longer life by calling the feature ‘The Sherman Line’. Further information regarding Brian’s life and work can be gleaned by application of the usual online research techniques.
An Old Xaverian who was at Melbourne Uni with Brian remembers him well and provides an example of his personality and intelligence:
My class memories of Brian is of him sitting in the front row under the nose of the Professor ( E R Love) reading the newspaper which eventually became too much for the Professor.
"Sherman, put down the paper and come to the blackboard and complete the problem that I have been methodically solving".
Brian would look up, proceed to the blackboard and finish off the work, usually in 2-3 brilliant strokes.
The Professor would look on dumbstruck by the simplicity of his answer. .... He was a genius really.
Recent communications to SPOCA by Brian included some recollections of his time at St Pat’s, particularly his involvement in handball which continued after his SPC years but still with some St Pat’s compatriots. A few months ago he was receiving treatment for myeloma but he and his doctor were optimistic about a recovery by Christmas. Unfortunately that wasn’t to be as he passed away a month after Christmas. He is survived by a large family of sons, daughters and grandchildren, and his death notice in the Adelaide Advertiser can be read here.
RIP Brian
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