Francis Stuart "Frank" Morris

It was with great sadness I read about Frank's death in the Vancouver Sun. I am in Vancouver for a few months but I live in Waterloo, Ontario and will be going back there in June.

In 1967, shortly after arriving with my two girlfriends from Ireland, I applied for a drafting job at North Van. City Hall.

Frank could see I was nervous and told me jokes about Ireland and his parents to make me feel at home.

He sat me down at a drafting table at the back of all the other draftsmen, who were facing forward, I could just see their backs.

I got my assignment, complete a Math test and a drawing in ink.

I completed the first and had almost finished the second assignment when I hit the table with my foot and dislodged the ink bottle from it's perch at the top of the table.

I remember watching in horror the ink slowly washing down the middle of my drawing and dropping into my open purse on the floor beside me.

I looked around quickly to see if anyone had noticed and seeing no-one, I quietly slipped off my stool and was heading for my coat to go home when Frank came back.

I burst into tears and he guided me into his office, told me to compose myself and that he would be back in 10 minutes to finish the interview.

I will never forget his laughter when he came back and I immediately told him I was not the one he was looking for. "That's what I love to hear, confidence".

He told me the Math test was great and he was able to see from the remainder of the drawing that I knew what I was doing.

He hired me on the spot, saying that they needed a woman in there to 'civilize" the drafting department and the Irish touch was just what they wanted.

I spent a very happy two years in that department and always enjoyed Frank's positive attitude and manner although I know he used to take great pleasure in shocking the old fuddy duddies around City Hall.

I married, moved to Vernon and came back 10 years later to become a full time Education student at UBC.

I went to see him and it was as if I had never been away. He told me he was proud of me and to keep getting educated. He also trotted out some Irish jokes and told me off when I said they were not appropriate."Don't tell me you have become one of those politically correct idiots". I assured him I had not. Shortly after we moved to Ontario where I have lived ever since.

My husband is on sabattical here in Vancouver at UBC and I took a leave of absence myself to visit the places and people I love, our daughter has moved back here permanently, so we will be visiting often and retiring here also when the time comes.

I never read the obituries here but that day I did and there was the beautiful but very sad entry for Frank.

I am glad he was such a role model of courage for his family but it hurt to know he was so ill, he did not deserve that.

Again, my most sincere sympathy to you, his children, he was a caring dynamic influence in my life and I can see, in yours.

Warm regards,

Diane Warriner