A man who helped enrich the lives of thousands of students over a 36-year teaching career died Jan. 6.
Fred W. Hackett, who taught English and history for more than three decades at Sudbury Secondary School (formerly Sudbury High) before retiring in the
early 1980s, died at home surrounded by his family.
City Councillor Doug Craig was a fellow teacher and a friend of Hackett's. He remembers Hackett as a passionate and enthusiastic teacher who was always respected by his students.
"Fred was one of the last type of teachers who, when he walked into the classroom, didn't have to endure classroom problems because of the amount of respect he received from virtually all of his students," said Craig. "He loved to teach and his ability to transmit his passion for English or history was picked up by his students and most became as enthusiastic for those subjects as Fred was.
"He was very much a mentor and someone I looked up to early in my teaching career," said Craig. "I got to know Fred very well and he influenced a lot of other teachers and all of his students with his gentle, quiet ways, while still sharing his enthusiasm for what he was doing.
"He had just a wonderful teaching career and left this community a much, much better place. Most people don't remember all of their teachers when they
get older, but most of his students didn't forget Fred Hackett...he had that kind of impact in the classroom."
Hackett is survived by his wife Jacqui, daughters Fleur of Sudbury and Yvette of Ottawa, sons Lachlan of Brisbane, Australia, and Evan of Edmonton,
and three grandchildren.
Hackett was raised in North Bay and was a graduate of Queen's University in Kingston. He served in the Canadian Armed Forces before beginning his teaching career in 1946. He served on the Sudbury library board for many years.
