A tribute to James Ernest Hassall.

James was born on September 17, 1951. He attended the University of Waikato, and was the first recipient of a Master of Arts Degree with First Class Honours at that institution. He was appointed to the English Department at Hamilton Boys' High School in 1980, and from 1981 to 1988 was the editor of the school magazine, The Hamiltonian, as well as the TCR of Badminton in the early 1980s. 

James and Susan were engaged in 1983 and married on the 2nd of November, 1985. Daughter Alex was born on the 4th of December in 1987, and twin sons Meredith and Francis followed on the 20th of April, 1994.

James taught Classical Studies from 1993, along with Art History and English, and even taught Classics to students at Waikato Diocesan, as they did not have this subject at that school. He became the Head of the English Department in 1993, and in 1997 his exceptional talents as an educator were recognised when he was the recipient of a National Excellence in Teaching Award, one of 10 in New Zealand. 

James eventually retired in 2016, but continued to act as a relief teacher until 2019. He wrote the following for the 2016 edition of The Hamiltonian:

I have taught at Hamilton Boys' High School for almost forty years and I thank the school for gifting me the freedom to teach in a way which has allowed words like kindness, care, love, hope, optimism, sincerity, open-heartedness, truth, and so many more of a similar ilk, to remain central to me. It has been a genuine privilege sharing my days, over the years, with so many wonderful, principled, creative and considerate young men, all of whom have taught me so much. I thank them — all of them — for almost forty years of intellectual challenge, thoughtfulness, interest and concern. I thank Susan, as my Headmaster, for her constant support, for her absolute, unwavering, unafraid commitment to the best of all possible ideals and for her visionary and exceptionally able leadership of us all. I leave content and happily contemplate a future rich in grandchildren, gardens, books and many delightful hours pottering around in artists' studios and gallery stockrooms. Oh... and as my classes know, listening to Bob Dylan!

When the news that Mr Hassall had died on the 15th of July this year broke, there was an outpouring of grief and love on the school's Facebook page attesting to his kindness, wisdom, care, and grace. There were many expressions of gratitude and references to James as a favourite teacher from hundreds of students and families.

A quote chosen for the 2000 Hamiltonian from Shakespeare's Othello speaks to his love of and care for Susan.

"For she has eyes and chose me"...

Our gentle man and our gentleman. May he rest in peace forever.